How much does it cost you...

[Cookie]

...to pay for all the stuff you need to look after yourself?

ie your insulin, test strips, lancets etc?

How much does it cost you, say per month for example?

(This question is obviously not for UK peeps!) :whistling

[Eri's mom]

Well, since the insurance went kaput, we have been told it will be about $400/month(+) until we get insurance....this is just w/ her w/ the MDI's...she starts the pump next month...

[Belinda]

40.00 for 9 vials of insulin
20.00 for 700 strips
pump supplies @70.00

This is all for a 3 month supply

[am1977]

Well, since I don't change my lancets all that much :whistling:...I don't count them as a monthly expense. So my main two costs are my test strips and the insulin.
Usually it's :
$25 test strips (200)
$25 Humalog (two vials)

As for pump supplies...Minimed's billing department is kind of screwed up :rolleyes: ... I haven't received a bill from them in the longest time, not that i mind ;)

[jeggeman31]

I pay about $100 a month after insurance

[archimeech]

On Insurance:
1 month supply
25.00 8 vials insulin
25.00 300 strips
25.00 prevacid
25.00 altace
43.00 zetia
15.00 synthroid
47.00 pump infusion sets
25.00 non-prescription supplies and vitamins
230.00 Grand Total :thumbsup:

Without Insurance what it would be:
320.00 8 vials of insulin
240.00 300 strips
135.00 prevacid
128.00 altace
140.00 zetia
15.00 synthroid
67.00 pump infusion sets
25.00 non prescription supplies and vitamins
1,070.00 Grand Total :mad:

[LauRa Lu]

:eek: I see there is an advantage to living in england :whistling

[archimeech]

Yes, I'm definitely a Quasi-Socialist when it comes to Medical/Health. The UKs system is a bit flawed, however. I usually don't have to wait for a doctor and am able to see specialists whenever I need to. I also don't have to wait in line at a surgery clinic, and I didn't have much trouble getting a pump(either time).

[DeusXM]

I usually don't have to wait for a doctor

Neither do we. You just make an appointment, which will usually be within the next 2 days, or if it's an emergency you see one straight away.

able to see specialists whenever I need to.

Same as.

I also don't have to wait in line at a surgery clinic

Depends on the surgery. Essential stuff is done there and then - less important procedures have a waiting list.

I didn't have much trouble getting a pump(either time).

Been offered the pump twice now and refused it both times.

Also we got Lantus and Levemir before you guys too! :p

[archimeech]

Sounds Great! I've heard a lot of people on here and elsewehere complaining of having to wait, and not being able to get a pump.

[LauRa Lu]

Sounds Great! I've heard a lot of people on here and elsewehere complaining of having to wait, and not being able to get a pump.

Well I've never been offered a pump but I don't think i'd want one anyway :)

In some places you do have to wait to see a doctor, where my mum lives the average wait is at least 12 days maybe more, by which time you're better anyway.

Luckily where I live though most of the time I can see a doctor the next day or day after, only once I had to wait till the end of the week.

Now dentists in the uk... :mad: .... they aint so good at the moment. BuT I'm so happy because today I actually found one thats taking on new patients :thumbsup: and I only have to wait til august for my apointment, which isn't as long as i'd thought it would be. I've been trying to get a dentist for 3 years now, I haven't seen one for 4 years!!!

I can't belive I'm looking forward to going to the dentist :D

[DeusXM]

The NHS don't particularly 'like' offering people the pump but if you meet certain criteria you are well within your rights to ask for it and expect to have it paid for by the NHS. You can also, of course, choose to buy a pump privately yourself should you so wish, although I'm not sure if then you could get the insulin on prescription for it.

One of the reasons the NHS is not so pro-pump is because research suggests you get just as good control with MDI for a fraction of the cost. So yeah, it does come down to the NHS trying to save itself money but at least it isn't particularly compromising on care.

A few years ago we were in a very silly situation whereby the pens and cartridges were free but we still had to pay for pen needles - thankfully though this has now been resolved.

[middnite03]

hhmm right now..

1 month.

20.00 humilog 3 vials
20.00 test strips 200
20.00 vytorin
10.00 monopril
pump suplies are covered 100 percent under insurance...

once a year or so I get a 3 boxes of lances for 20.00 co pay, but thats about it, I used to complain about my monthly insurance co-pays, after reading this, I'll keep quiet now tho....

[koblenz]

I like Meech's format....
-----------------------------------------
On Insurance - 30 day supply:
15.00 2 vials insulin (Novolog)
25.00 300 strips & Lancets (Freestyle)
35.00 Lipitor
0.00 pump infusion sets & reservoirs (covered 100%)
18.00 non-prescription supplies and vitamins
~ $93.00.00 Grand Total
-----------------------------------------
Without Insurance what it would be:
144.00 2 vials of insulin (Novolog)
264.00 300 strips & Lancets (Freestyle)
78.00 Lipitor
188.00 pump infusion sets & reservoirs (covered 100%)
18.00 non-prescription supplies and vitamins
~ $692.00 Grand Total :eek:
-----------------------------------------

Fortunate enough to have good insurance through my employeer: PRICELESS

[archimeech]

Kob' what a great end line! LMAO, I didn't think to end it that way. :)

[BJC411]

1 Month

10.00 novalog/humalog
0.00 for everything else, lancets, pen needle, test strips, freestyle flash and the 25.00 copay to see the Doc, every so often.

[2Cert]

Around $20 a month for Lantus, NovoLog, syringes, and Simvastatin. I'm supposed to have a co-pay for Dr. visits but have never got a bill for that.

[rzrbks]

Insulin:

$142.50 U.S for Lantus 15mL for the Opticlik---82 days with each prescription

$115.00 for 15mL of Novolog

Needles for the InDuo? still on my original boxes from three years ago

Haven't even opened my 2nd box of lancets--change those about once every 6 weeks or so

syringes for Lantus Vials? fewer than 200 in 3 years

blood strips? about $85 U.S. every 3 months after deductible


Without ins., I know that my strips alone run about $1200--$1500 every three months.

BTW, I have to pay for my own insulin, the Ins DoesN't cover meds.

[twocute64001]

I was just reading our new insurance booklet - its worse than last year

before any diabetic supplies are covered I must meet my 2000.00 eductable plus a 3500.00 out of pocket and that is IF all expenses are in network

so after I pay 5,500.00 it will cover with co-pays of 30.00 per prescription per month

UNITED HEALTHCARE SUCKS

[jeggeman31]

UNITED HEALTHCARE SUCKS

I don't think it is united healthcare, I think it is the plan your boss/or you choose. I have United Health Care and have very great insurance.

[nantomsuethom]

I do mail order - 3 months supplies:
9 vials of Novolog = $70.00
2,000 flash meter strips = $70.00
pump supplies (infusion sets, IV prep, OpSite, batteries) covered 100%- $0.00

$140.00 for 3 months

[archimeech]

Razer, where have you been, man? Good to see you chime in!:)

[Clint]

One of the reasons the NHS is not so pro-pump is because research suggests you get just as good control with MDI for a fraction of the cost. So yeah, it does come down to the NHS trying to save itself money but at least it isn't particularly compromising on care.


For me its the other way around... I had horrible control on MDI and much much better control on a pump...

I pay about $50 a month for my insulin and since my prev ins didnt cover my strips, my wife found a way to get me free strips - she got me 500 strips so until I run out, I am not having to pay for those. Before that, I was spending close to $200 a month on strips.

[DeusXM]

For me its the other way around... I had horrible control on MDI and much much better control on a pump...

It's dependent really on the individual. I should have phrased 'it's possible to acheive the same results on MDI as you'd get with a pump' - although clearly MDI requires considerably more planning and difficulty to acheive those results.

[Eri's mom]

Well, I just got a call from the pharmacy, and Eri's scripts(they added on the other test strips as well...and I guess the novolin and novolog is more expensive than the others)...but the grand total bill is: $654.58
Ummm....I told them to hold til Friday when her new insurance goes through :1eye:

[KickStart101]

Hmmm...Well, you didn't mention Canadians, I don't think. We pay $2.00 for each prescription, whether it be a box of 100 syringes, my 2 types of Insulin, my 2 RA drugs, 2 types of test stripes etc. each month through my Hubbie's job. My low dose aspirin is not prescription.

[jdstein11]

Well, my initial supply is running out, so my wife filled prescriptions for Novolog, Lantus, test strips, needles and lancets. Not everything was ready, but I'm already looking at $60 for my portion, and my insurance is solid.