My Mom is now a full blown diabetic. They told her she has to test twice a day but the dr. says the insurance will only pay for 50 strips a month...and even then she still has to pay some money out of pocket for the strips. Anyone have any advice on how to get extra strips cheap or free? TIA.
Diabetics-any advice on how to get cheap test strips?
- Thread starter kewpon addict
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Call insurance yourself. My son uses about 10 strips per day and after we hit the deductible they are covered. Your mom is type 1 and only tests twice daily?
By the way...I learned yesterday that you can use you Jewel card when filling scrips to get gas rewards
By the way...I learned yesterday that you can use you Jewel card when filling scrips to get gas rewards
I thought often if the doctor tells insurance its necessary they relent. You can try ebay, there are also companies online that sell them cheap like .50 each depending on type. I know some have gotten the Walmart meter and used their strips which are relatively cheap versus the "big brands".
If your mom has Medicare and lives in Illinois then they are completely FREE. You'll need a paper script every 6 months, bring it into the pharmacy and they should be 0.00.
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Medicare covers all glucose testing supplies [lancets & test strips] for diabetics. My dad only pays for his meds to treat diabetes, the testing supplies are free.
BTW, get the ultra fine lancets, they hurt less.
I believe she is type 2...right now she is taking the pills for it...they told her to test twice a day since before that she was testing once a day or not at all. Thanks for the info. I believe next yr. she can get medicare when she turns 65....in the meantime she is still trying to work(although right now she's off work on leave).
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Check with her insurance company, dad's hmo has always covered his testing supplies, even before he turned 65.
It is more cost effective for diabetics to check their glucose levels frequently than to be hospitalized for a problem triggered by either too high or too low levels.
It is more cost effective for diabetics to check their glucose levels frequently than to be hospitalized for a problem triggered by either too high or too low levels.
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sorry...I misunderstood "full blown". I'd still check with the insurance co though
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No need to buy name brand strips at expensive prices if insurance does not cover. 50 strips at walmart is $9. Store brands (Walgreens, kroger, publix, riteaid, etc are as good as name brand).
Lucky my insurance covers it. Also is it covered a prescriptioon item or durable medical device on her insurance. That affects cost. All you need to is to get doctor to rewrite script to state that she is testing more times per day so that she gets 2 bottle of stirps instead of 2. Also if it is twice per day x 30 days they need to supply her with 60 strips which is two bottles of 50 or one bottle of 100.
Lucky my insurance covers it. Also is it covered a prescriptioon item or durable medical device on her insurance. That affects cost. All you need to is to get doctor to rewrite script to state that she is testing more times per day so that she gets 2 bottle of stirps instead of 2. Also if it is twice per day x 30 days they need to supply her with 60 strips which is two bottles of 50 or one bottle of 100.
She has a PPO and I think that may be the issue...she refuses to join an HMO...I will look into it regardless...thanks for the info.
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Depends on the HMO.
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It depends on what you need what covers more. In my case HMO covers more for my insulin dependent diabetic 22 year old. Most HMO cover diabetes supplies as durable medical devices and there is NO COPAY. My son is on an insulin pump and his $2,000 in pump accessories per year are free. Same thing for his test strips. You really need to know what your individual families major expenses are and to determine how they are covered under each plan. If I was on a PPO I would need to pay 2000 out of pocket and then pay 20% of the costs.
I have an open Access HMO which means I do not need my primary care physicians approval before seeing a specialist. Most HMOs are not like they used to be 20 years ago. Most Doctors are on both the HMO and PPO plans.
Most HMOs cover more preventative type of care which is how diabetes supplies are covered.
I have an open Access HMO which means I do not need my primary care physicians approval before seeing a specialist. Most HMOs are not like they used to be 20 years ago. Most Doctors are on both the HMO and PPO plans.
Most HMOs cover more preventative type of care which is how diabetes supplies are covered.
Walgreens new prescription program gives you their meter, and test strips are $15 each.
She has to have a doc's script to participate in it.
My MIL need diabetic supplies as they don't have them availablt in their country. We do the store brand machine with Walgreens test strips.
Never found a cheaper way to go. Those FREE name brand machines have double the cost test strips. There is a REASON they keep giving away the machines. The $$ is in the strips.
She has to have a doc's script to participate in it.
My MIL need diabetic supplies as they don't have them availablt in their country. We do the store brand machine with Walgreens test strips.
Never found a cheaper way to go. Those FREE name brand machines have double the cost test strips. There is a REASON they keep giving away the machines. The $$ is in the strips.
