question:test strips and prescription

irina140 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 01:00 PM

I hope you can give me advise on the following question:
I'm an imigrant from Russia with no insurance (no work) and no chance to get it with my preexisting condition. I brought and year supply of insulin with me, however I'm in desparate need of the test strips now. I know there is an assistance program that would help me a lot, but it still requires a prescription from a doctor. My question is:
Will it be possible for me just to call any doctor and explain the situation so they can call in the prescription to a pharmacy (for the strips) or will it still require a visit with all the tests involved (that would cost a fortune of course).
How many strips per day does your doctors usually prescribe you?
What is the cost to visit a doctor to get the prescription?

Belinda · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 01:07 PM

Where ever you are there is a health department. You can possibly see a doctor for free. Also there are several free clinics in large or larger cities. I would check in the local phone book. What are you going to do once your out of insulin??????? Go back to Russia to see ;your doctor? or begin looking for a doctor here in the states? Any way you do it you will need a physician here in the USA.

lelggren · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 01:16 PM

Hello and welcome

Most Doctors will require you to visit them before they give out any prescriptions just because of liability issues. If you made a dr. appt for just the reason of talking to the dr about a new prescription, I can't imagine that the cost would be greater than $70. In fact, I am almost positive it would be less than that because I had a while without insurance too, and my appointments ran me about $65 a visit. It is the blood work that makes things really badly expensive. Just tell the doctor that you can't afford to have the blood work done right now. They deal with people without insurance all the time.
Also, when you go to the appointment, talk to the desk people because sometimes, if you don't have insurance and you offer to pay up front, they will sometimes give you discounts on your appointment cost. Can't hurt to ask!

Also, there are some test strips that are cheaper than other's too. Make sure you use a meter that has cheaper test strips. If you need a new meter to accomplish this, most doctors or pharmacies will give you a new meter for free just because the companies that put out the meters know that you will be spending $$$$ on the test strips so they allow the meters to be given out free.

I usually test about 7 or more times a day. I'm on an insulin pump and I am also just now starting to get my control back after a long time of having very bad bg's. Most T1's test at least 4 times/day.

I hope this helps! and again, Welcome! We're glad to have you here with us. Please ask anything and everything

lgvincent · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 02:18 PM

What type of strips are you using? I'll try to send a few, if I have them.

irina140 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 02:21 PM

Thank you so much for the detailed and very helpful reply. I'll try to call several doctors and see what they say on my request, or, like Belinda suggested, try to find a free clinic here. I agree: with such condition as diabetes you have to have a doctor here. I was planning to go back to Russia in a year to see a doctor there and get insulin prescriptions. One can get a year supply of insulin in Russia, but strips are strictly on a month by month basis, cosidering that you you lucky to find the prescribed brand in a drug store.
I would be happy to hear from more people on this subject.Please post more replies!

rzrbks · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 02:23 PM

Another thing to do is call the local Diabetes center. It should be connected with a local hospital.

They will be able to help you greatly.

irina140 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgvincent

What type of strips are you using? I'll try to send a few, if I have them.

With the helpful hints from forum users and using rebates I was able to get (or will get soon) several brands of meeters for free from manufactures: OneTouch Ultra, AccuChek Aviva, Ascensia, BD and Freestyle Flash. So now I have a wide range of meeters, just no strips. Would be glad to reimburse your shipping costs.

lgvincent · #8 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 03:24 PM

Okay, I can get a few Ultra strips to you to try to help out for a while.

arath13 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2006, 09:48 PM

ADC Patient Assistance

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Here is the phone# 866-972-7863

Hope this helps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

IRINA>>Call and get a form. You should be able to get a prescription at a free clinic from one of the physicians there. Once you get accepted you get all of you testing supplies free for a year and then it has to be renewed each year after. I wish you luck!