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Permalink Reply by elaine peterson on March 21, 2011 at 9:40am

Check with the manufacturers web sites...they sometimes work with people in your situation. I have bought meters when they are being promoted (they often offer a rebate which makes them free,) just for the 10 free strips that come in the box with them. Grocery and drug stores have been promoting their store brand meters and strips and are sometimes great deals. You could check with the pharmacist to see if they are familiar with any promotions. Your doc might be able to dig up some samples or know of a subsidy program. There has been some discussion about this in the past. Research the older forum questions. Good luck.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on March 21, 2011 at 7:06pm

I buy my strips on Amazon and usually get them for 50-60% off. Also Walmart has the Relion Meter with 100 strips for $39, pretty cheap. Check the meter websites. I got a Bayer Contour USB meter free and it had 25 free strips. Sometimes pharmacies will have them on sale. I buy them just for the strips. CVS had them last month for $9.99 for the meter with 25 free strips. Bayer also has a "Simple Wins" Plan you can sign up for. I think your copay is $15 for a certain number of strips. Also sometimes they have coupons in the coupon section of the Sunday paper. I always look. Also online pharmacies like www.healthwarehouse.com have pretty good deals. They have four or five versions of every strip. The boxes look different but the strips are the same inside. I buy the cheapest ones, usually around $25 for 50 strips or less.

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Permalink Reply by LaGuitariste on March 21, 2011 at 7:17pm

Gosh, I'm sorry you lost your coverage. Can you get COBRA? It might be less expensive than you think. Of course, it won't be cheap, especially for a family.

I recently ran out of test strips on a Saturday night and couldn't get to my HMO pharmacy. I paid over a dollar per strip at the local commercial pharmacy. What a racket!

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Permalink Reply by Nancy on March 21, 2011 at 7:32pm

I would check out the side kick, from Walmart. 50 strips for 19.99. It is as accurate as my son's other meters and is small and easy to transport. I would also look into your Medical assistance program in your state. Sometimes, if a child has a chronic illness, regardless of income, they will cover that child's health care needs. Pennsylvania has this program.
So sorry about the insurance.

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Permalink Reply by Jesus Ingles on March 22, 2011 at 10:34am

Check out this website: www.americandiabeteswholesale.com it has a lot of specials on all diabetic supplies. I get a lot of my supplies and friend's supplies there since we don't have insurance either. You might also want to join the group Free Stuff, there are people putting up websites with discounts and free supplies on there. Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Rease on March 23, 2011 at 11:48am

thanks for all the tips! we just could not afford coverage anymore ($1200) and co-pays for pump supplies were actually MORE than cash payment - plus we were paying that $1200 per month! crazy, i tell you!

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on March 24, 2011 at 11:38am

I know what you mean, our premiums were just raised to over $1000 a month and we still have a $6000 deductible. So why do we have insurance. We are thinking about dropping it, too. I know people who buy strips on E-Bay, if you are brave. Also check out Bayer and Accu Check, they advertise some program for $15 a month but I am sure there are condiditions.

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Permalink Reply by Donna H on March 24, 2011 at 11:49am

I believe Abbot has a program with their Freestyle Lite and I think their regular Freestyle where they will give you a meter and then you can join a program where your monthly supply of strips won't be over a certain dollar amount.

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Permalink Reply by Trisha01 on March 24, 2011 at 11:55am

Prescription Assistance Program.

This place is reputable, and is for ANYONE that needs help with prescription assistance.

Trisha

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