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High Cost of Test Strips
by Amy TenderichJune 18, 2009 5:37 PM
51 Replies
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Tags: glucose monitor, costs, test strips, finance, glucose meter, insurance coverage, supplies, mark up
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Lisa Ann |
Lisa Ann replied June 18, 2009 7:22 PM
I'm so glad that I have good insurance that pays for my strips. |
John Crowley |
John Crowley replied June 18, 2009 7:47 PM
That is so crazy! You would think that someone in this economy would figure out that you could capture half the market if you came out with a test strip for half the price. A lower margin but huge volume!
kdroberts replied June 19, 2009 12:48 AM It may not be that easy!
Momto3 replied June 19, 2009 1:12 AM I think the genius thing would be to realize how many millions of people don't have insurance and need these products and find an easier way for people to get them!
John Crowley replied June 19, 2009 2:29 PM I was mostly saying the marketing genius thing in jest.
kdroberts replied June 19, 2009 3:06 PM It's funny, most things are covered under my insurance, even if it's non preferred and I have to pay $70/50% of the price. However, it specifically says that all relion products are not covered at all.
cakeybakes replied June 20, 2009 3:19 AM Relion happens to be the Wal-Mart brand of test strips and a lot of big companies (insurance) don't like the fact that WM is underselling them. I'm not a huge fan of WM, but if I can get my Rx's cheaper, then that's where I'll go! (BTW, my insurance won't cover that brand, either.)
lipsie replied June 20, 2009 12:53 PM I here you on that, I mean not personally but for others...I really feel for those in this situation and it really pisses me off!! Good luck to all of you!!! Love yassssssssss Sheila
Carol11 replied June 20, 2009 3:06 PM I used to work retail and one day I checked the store's cost price for my strips (Freestlyle) and their mark-up was $7-8 on a box that sold for $72.90 (Cdn)
pop2 replied June 20, 2009 4:41 PM I wonder just what it will be like When insurance companys out price most of us because many jobs
jsthoffman replied July 1, 2009 11:36 AM I find you can get a better price on test strips at www.healthwarehouse.com it is a Canadian Pharmacy. Acensia test strips are 50 for $25.00, also the price of insuline is Novoline R $30, Humalog is $40, and Lantus is $76. No precscription is required like here in the U.S. for Humalogn or Lantus.
jsthoffman replied July 1, 2009 11:38 AM www.NorthWestPharmacy.com has the best prices on Novilin R, Humalog, and Lantus Insuline
tladybug77 replied August 30, 2009 5:12 PM If your diabetic doctor requires you to use a type of meter that you can plug into your computer so that you can send in the readings to them you cannot use just any meter and I tried the relion and it would not fit the bill. |
lipsie |
lipsie replied June 19, 2009 11:34 AM
Ulgh! That's all I can say! This is sad! Thanks for the reading Amy, very interesting1 Sheila |
Carol11 |
Carol11 replied June 19, 2009 3:01 PM
I have wondered how much the d....d things cost. Now I know but I can't say I'm surprised at the mark-up!!! |
BeckyJ |
BeckyJ replied June 19, 2009 8:16 PM
I've really been struggling with this one lately myself. Medi-Kan Isurance covers 3 test strips a day (and that only becuase I'm on insulin...non-insulin diabetics are alloted 1 a day) and I have to test much more often of course since I am having a lot of control issues right now. Once I run out of the test strips they allot me I have to pay almost $1 a strip for the rest of my tests.CRAZY! An additional 3 stips a day x 30 days makes for $90 extra a month I have to pay out. |
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norris |
norris replied June 20, 2009 12:21 AM
Last edited 4 months ago And depending on how many times a day you have to test could run you a pretty penny.I wish it was something trhat we could do to lower the prices. |
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Amy Tenderich |
Amy Tenderich replied June 20, 2009 5:28 PM
The pharma companies say the high price has to do with the cost of gold, because they use gold in the making -- but I still think the mark-up is crazy-high...
elained replied July 20, 2009 7:12 PM i order thru a ccs medical on ins ot medicaid they are free.
apanda replied September 3, 2009 12:52 AM Amy, "they use gold in the making of strips"...
beadmom replied September 3, 2009 4:28 PM Wow... I hate to admit this but my strips go in a cup next to my bed. There's a bunch.....I wonder if reclamation is possible.
apanda replied September 5, 2009 4:21 PM I was wondering the same thing? LOL
BeckyJ replied September 9, 2009 10:01 PM If they do I'll be in that line, just cleaned out my purse and found 97 old stips!!! Tells ya how often I clean my purse out huh? I also found 5 very old tubes of gluco tabs so gross they were practically just dust. |
michaeldbarnett |
michaeldbarnett replied June 20, 2009 5:48 PM
The test strip our over priced and I test two times
Amy Tenderich replied June 22, 2009 3:17 PM I also wrote recently about the rock-bottom prices at Wal-Mart: meters starting at $9 and test strips for just about .39 cents each -
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mamaoak |
mamaoak replied June 20, 2009 7:59 PM
Last edited 4 months ago yes these thing are outragious in price. i order mine in bulk it is a bit ceeper in despencing fees they charge aswell have good insurane as well. it costing mre 25.00 for three months supply. it cuts out the parmacey co pay of 30.00 a month.so iam saveings of 60 dollars this way. |
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RD03875 |
RD03875 replied June 20, 2009 9:26 PM
I have no insurance so I have to pay every single penny for all my diabetic supplies and prescriptions. |
Gabby |
Gabby replied June 21, 2009 12:05 AM
I have a pretty basic meter and use the basic strips. They work for me, and if I have to give a little bigger sample, oh well. There is no way I could afford $1 per strip. I pay everything out of pocket. So I find Ebay to be my shop of choice. I just got 600 strips for .15 cents each. They are all good until 2010 and unopened. I know it is not the "right" way, but it is the only way we can afford them. |
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walshskis |
walshskis replied June 25, 2009 10:02 PM
Advocate redicode strips are only $ 0.40 at
Mike Shaw replied July 4, 2009 9:37 PM What bothers me the most is that some of these other strips are cheaper. Great, awesome, spectacular. Right? They often read higher than the one touch. The one toucv is designed to read 10 points lower than actual. The other guys will tend to read a little higher. One Touch has built this feature in (you can call and ask them). I would rather treat for a low, then treat for a high and be wrong. Just my opinion. Be careful out there.
walshskis replied October 29, 2009 1:11 AM I believe the difference is whether they are presenting whole blood results or plasma results. Some meters provide the higher (plasma) results so they can be directly compared to lab test results. I think as long as you know which you're using (see the manual) you should be okay - as long as you don't switch back and forth. Plasma is usually 10-12% higher. |
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RoyW |
RoyW replied June 30, 2009 6:00 PM
Through my employer I have Blue Cross a 60/40 plan. I found a company that discounts my test strips. I am getting one touch strips for free. Message me for further information.
Mike Shaw replied July 4, 2009 9:34 PM It is a shame. With insurance, I still have to pay a co pay of $35.00 for what ever amount I get (be it 100 a month or 150). Granted, this is okay, but my wife's grandparents have to buy additional strips every month. The are on Medicare/Medicaid and they are only allowed on canister of strips a month. Less than one strip a day? How can you manage diabetes with that? These companies should be very ashamed of their selves. Do you feel like you are taking advantaged of folks? GREEDY, GREEDY, GREEDY! 900% markup is absolutely ridiculous. |
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timmy t |
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howdyjack |
howdyjack replied July 17, 2009 6:40 AM
If your insurance does not play you can get the strips at low cost at http://www.internationaldrugmart.com/glucose-monitors/one...
pop2 replied August 3, 2009 10:10 PM I am not understanding how they charge so much and those strip do expire so what do they when they are close to expireing ,do they give them to people who need them they can't sale them when they are about to expire.Are they so
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MarleneM |
MarleneM replied August 4, 2009 4:39 AM
I found some test strips at walmart for $20 for 50 strips and you had to purchase their meter for $8.97. When I told one of my friends this he said someone told him they werent any good.
pop2 replied August 11, 2009 1:30 AM I was about to check walmart ,because I test about 6 time a day due to a slideing scale I take a second insulin with my slow acting so if it gets to high after a meal i will take the fast acting which makes me test more due to low before bed time. I am kind of all over the place right now because I had an infection but I am working on it. the cost for my supply
superpaperdude replied August 11, 2009 5:52 AM ive only been a diabetic for a week---well ok i have probably been one for many months-was DIAGNOSED last wednesday---but my father has been insulin dependent since 1985--and recently did a semi-scientific study on meter accuracy, as did i today----mine was like this--i got a free, top-of-the-line bayer tester from the hospital---only got 10 strips and 10 needles for pricking---i am on a sliding scale so i have to test often until i get my glucose level under control---i work FOR walmart so i cannot afford a dollar a strip--so my mother-in-law bought me a reli-on at wally world---i did several simultaneous tests using the same blood sample--the blood from one pricking--in both meters--each time, the reli-on scored exactly 10 points below the bayer---to me that is an acceptable range---talk to your doctor people, but i recommend using the walmart meter--for economy
shellyj replied September 1, 2009 2:53 AM the only thing for me about the relion meter is it not here in canada it makes me so mad as we have walmart in canada I have talk to the company who makes the meters but they have no plans to bring them into canada what a rip off for us canadians
pthss replied September 1, 2009 4:53 AM Last edited 2 months ago If you go online to different sites, they will send you a free meter, with 10 needles, 10 test strips. I did this and I believe from Freestyle Lite they sent a card to give to pharmacy. Strips were costing me 96.00 everytime, with the card they are 50.09 a real saving. I thought it was not true, but I have gotten
shellyj replied September 2, 2009 5:34 AM ok thanks does these sites work for canada as there are some just for the us
Carol11 replied September 2, 2009 2:51 PM try whatever company ie abbott.ca or any one of them-----.ca. Or else a lot of the pha rmacy ads often have offers for various meters for free when you buy the strips, this past week Rexall/Pharma Plus had one for Abbott Freestyle. Or try your doctor or CDE, The last one I got for free at the JDRF symposium. Carol (in Waterloo. Ont.)
walshskis replied October 29, 2009 1:26 AM BD strips (now called Novomax) are $27.50 per box of 50 here:
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beadmom |
beadmom replied September 3, 2009 12:26 AM
I just found out my insurance will cover only certain meters and their strips. Of course this is NOT the one they gave me at the initial diagnosis so I got charged a bunch for that and now the strips are not covered. So... I have to get another one that is on the plan. Then they only cost $30 through my insurance instead of $50.
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beadmom |
beadmom replied September 15, 2009 6:24 PM
OK.. so my insurance counts strips as medicine. My husbnad's insurance counts them as medical supplies. I have to pay the full price because they are not covered.
BeckyJ replied September 17, 2009 11:31 PM Similar situation here. Medicaid only allows 3 test strips per day, needless to say I use more than that. My Mom and I both use the same meter since she can get 100 stips for $20 and fill as many times as needed. We are sharing until my Medicare kicks in, just been approved so I'm not sure how long it will take. |
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DJsMama |
DJsMama replied 4 days ago
It is absolutely ridicules! We don't have insurance at all & have to buy three different kinds, for me, my son & my mother! |
Hi All,
Can you believe that the markup on glucose test strips is roughly 900%?!
That's what I've learned from LA Times columnist David Lazarus, who wrote a Guest Post on DiabetesMine.com today: http://www.diabetesmine.com/2009/06/a-year-and-a-half-wit...
When queried on the number, he tells me "That figure was from a column I wrote on the subject a year or so ago. Looks like it costs 10 cents or so to produce each strip. So at a retail price of $1, you have one of the biggest markups in the business world – especially for a product whose R&D costs were covered long ago."
Ouch!!