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03-26-2008, 07:58 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 20
| | | Can't afford the test strips
Hi, This is my first time posting...I was recently told that I needed to check my blood sugars in the morning. I was giving a Freestyle Flash meter from my doctor. Problem is, insurance will NOT cover the test strips or the lancets. I can't afford to buy the the test strips. The pharmacist told me about a program that some drug reps have called co-pay. Does anyone know about this? From what I gather, the co-pay card takes off a certain amount of money from the cost of the test strips.
How do you contact the drug reps to get one of these???? I'm just getting overwhelmed and not sure what to do. I've only got 6 strips left that came with my meter. Is there a place online to buy these at a reasonable cost?
I know I have to change my diet but where does one start?
Thank you
~cindel |
03-26-2008, 08:05 PM
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,328
| | | Hi Cindel. My daughter got free medication for a short time, the pharmacist gave us lists of names to apply to. I do not know if they do the same for testing supplies, but you should ask. I hope you get it worked out soon. Maybe you can get your doctor to give you more samples until you find more help.
__________________
Some people
No matter how old they get
Never lose their beauty-
They merely move it from their
Faces into their hearts
Martin Buxbaum
All my forum friends are beautiful
8/26/08 A1C 6.4
Cholesteral below 100
BP 114/64
Still anemic
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03-26-2008, 08:07 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Pre-Diabetic | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Diego, Kalifornia Republic
Posts: 181
| | Hi cindel,
I know what you mean. I don't have insurance at all right now and because I'm working for myself. I can't get insured because I'm a high risk, geeess! I've never heard about the co-pay plan thing so I'll be watching this post but if you need to buy I found American Diabetes Wholesale online has pretty good prices.
Good Luck...and Welcome!
__________________
Dave T2 Dx 2.22.2008
Now Pre Dx 4.1.2008 
A1C 5.6
No Meds (for now)
Low Carb Diet
Exercise (everyday) |
03-26-2008, 08:24 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spotsylvania, VA (USA)
Posts: 1,251
| | | Walmart sells a meter (under $10) that the strips are about $22/50 to go in it. The brand name is "ReliOn". I think it's about as cheap as you will find just shopping regular.
My insurance does cover my strips, but I like to test "a lot". I have bought strips for my One Touch Ultra for around $50/100 from eBay in the past. |
03-26-2008, 08:25 PM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Northern California
Posts: 6,414
| | | I know the price of having diabetes can be overwhelming. Test strips are expensive and some are covered by insurance while others are not. Find out from your insurance company which test strips are considered "formulary". Once you find out which test strips ARE covered, call that meter company and let them know that your insurance company will cover the strips, but you can't afford the meter. Odds are, the company will want your insurance company's business and they will send you a meter for free. Make sure you know how many strips your insurance company will cover monthly so you don't exceed the monthy allowance.
As far as diets go, there are many that people follow here. Go through the archives on this site and you will find many good ideas for low carb diets that will help you with your numbers.
I am glad you found us. There are great people here and lots of help. |
03-26-2008, 08:32 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 8,244
| | | I agree with Nancy. Contact your insurance to find out what is covered and then contact that company about getting a free meter from them and using their strips.
__________________
●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
●Animas pumper since December of 2002
~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2005)
~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - ?)
●LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone. |
03-26-2008, 09:44 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alabama
Posts: 728
| | | Hi Cindel and welcome to the forums! Here I go, pushing my True Track meter again. LOL. Well, Walgreen's sells them and often, if you buy 100 strips for $48, your meter is free. The strips run about $48 for 100 and $25 for 50. Lancets that will fit the TT pen are $5.95 for a box of 100. The TT meter usually tests within 10 points (higher or lower) of my One Touch Ultra2, the one my diabetes educator loves.
Otherwise, please do follow the excellent advice you've received here about finding supplies your insurance will cover. Frequent monitoring is the ONLY way to know what's going on with your body, especially in the beginning.
Good luck!
__________________
Glycemic impact diet
exercise
Metformin 2000 mg
Byetta 5 mcg/2x daily
Enalapril 40 mg
A1C, 8-7-08: 6.3 
A1C, 5-1-08: 5.6!! 
A1C, 2-5-08: 7.4  |
03-26-2008, 10:52 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Enumclaw, WA
Posts: 32
| | | I use medicare by mail. The copay is cheap. It just means they help pay for your stuff.
__________________
Diagnosis: July 17, 2005
Last A1C: 12.2
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03-26-2008, 11:56 PM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Do Dah, OZ, aka Kansas
Posts: 4,478
| | | Welcome Cindel!
Most insurance companies will provide a meter of their choice and then only charge the minimum copay for the strips. Did they offer you a meter or are they just refusing to pay for anything dealing with your diabetes? |
03-27-2008, 12:34 AM
|  | Member | | Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 109
| | | I am going thru some test strip problems at the moment, too. my original script was for testing only 4 times a day, and since I have gone on insulin I test at least 8 times a day. I am almost out and the insurance won't pay for more until next month. I am trying to get it worked out. I can't afford to buy them myself at $104 a box! The link someone posted above has some pretty good prices, though, I may order a small box to get me thru until my insurance business gets straightened out. I use the OneTouch Ultra, the strips are very spendy.
__________________ 
Robbie
Type2, diagnosed 2004
Metformin 2000mg
Lantus at night
Novolog Flexpen before meals "But Mama, that's where the fun is..." |
03-27-2008, 01:21 AM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Beijing, China
Posts: 406
| | Welcome Cindel, I cant advise you about the strips as I am not n the USA and I have private health care here...but just wanted to welcome you anyway.! |
03-27-2008, 04:36 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spotsylvania, VA (USA)
Posts: 1,251
| | | It just crossed my mind -- has your doctor written a prescription for the strips? Maybe that's the problem (if so, easy to fix). |
03-27-2008, 05:34 AM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 6,272
| | | Welcome Cindel! You've been given tons of good advice already, so I'll just leave it at Welcome aboard! You can learn a lot here, so post often and ask lots of questions.
__________________ T2, diagnosed 8/31/06.
Byetta 5 mcg
HCTZ 12.5 mg every other day for BP
Enalapril 20 mg 1 daily (ace-inhibitor)
Lower carb dieter (approx. 75 total carbs/day, more on weekends), taking chromium, multivitamin and fish oil tablets Initial A1C 8/06: 9.6
11/06: 6.2.
03/07: 5.3
06/07: 5.4
10/07: 5.3
05/08: 6.2 (right after dealing with shingles and bronchitis)  |
03-27-2008, 05:43 AM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 20
| | Thank you for the welcome everyone.
My insurance company won't pay for ANYTHING doing with diabetes. That's would be the problem. I just don't understand why. I will definitely call again and talk to whoever can actually give me straight answers. Quote:
Originally Posted by Harold  Welcome Cindel!
Most insurance companies will provide a meter of their choice and then only charge the minimum copay for the strips. Did they offer you a meter or are they just refusing to pay for anything dealing with your diabetes? | |
03-27-2008, 05:46 AM
| | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 6,272
| | | Cindel, does your insurance pay for any medications or is it a hospital or doctor's office only type insurance?
If you don't have drug coverage, i'd suggest getting one of the "generic" meters from some place like Walmart, as they are much less expensive. Also, some use E-bay to buy strips, but be care of expiration dates.
__________________ T2, diagnosed 8/31/06.
Byetta 5 mcg
HCTZ 12.5 mg every other day for BP
Enalapril 20 mg 1 daily (ace-inhibitor)
Lower carb dieter (approx. 75 total carbs/day, more on weekends), taking chromium, multivitamin and fish oil tablets Initial A1C 8/06: 9.6
11/06: 6.2.
03/07: 5.3
06/07: 5.4
10/07: 5.3
05/08: 6.2 (right after dealing with shingles and bronchitis) |
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