Comments on: The Stinging Cost of Glucose Test Strips http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:07:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mike Marcus http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-514969 Mike Marcus Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:26:11 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-514969 This year we changed over to a pay as you go Health Insurance Plan and I finally found out the real cost for test strips. My wife is a type 1 extremely brittle diabetic who needs to tests 10 times a day in order to keep her glucose under control. We were shocked to find out that the actual cost to us is over 1$ per strip (~4000$/yr). The cost to manufacture can not be more than a few pennies a strip in the volumes that are produced. Regardless of who is making the huge profits the cost is not affordable by most of the population of the USA. Based on this pricing many diabetics will forgo testing to save some money so they can live. The result of not testing will most likely result in poorer health and a greater cost to society. What can we do as a group to put pressure on the Pharmaceutical Companies/Insurance Companies/Distributers to take some social responsibility and make this much more affordable? Can we get the government to help? This year we changed over to a pay as you go Health Insurance Plan and I finally found out the real cost for test strips. My wife is a type 1 extremely brittle diabetic who needs to tests 10 times a day in order to keep her glucose under control. We were shocked to find out that the actual cost to us is over 1$ per strip (~4000$/yr). The cost to manufacture can not be more than a few pennies a strip in the volumes that are produced. Regardless of who is making the huge profits the cost is not affordable by most of the population of the USA.
Based on this pricing many diabetics will forgo testing to save some money so they can live. The result of not testing will most likely result in poorer health and a greater cost to society.

What can we do as a group to put pressure on the Pharmaceutical Companies/Insurance Companies/Distributers to take some social responsibility and make this much more affordable?
Can we get the government to help?

]]> By: pprometheus http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-503381 pprometheus Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:57:51 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-503381 we need someone in electronics who can make a circuit board strip and gold plate the copper so we can have a re-usable strips, so we can teach the greedy sharks a billion dollar lesson. we need someone in electronics who can make a circuit board strip and gold plate the copper so we can have a re-usable strips, so we can teach the greedy sharks a billion dollar lesson.

]]> By: Pete http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-464718 Pete Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:20:19 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-464718 The strips are expensive because insurance companies pay for them. They should stop paying, then the prices will be forced down to a point where people can afford them themselves. The strips are expensive because insurance companies pay for them. They should stop paying, then the prices will be forced down to a point where people can afford them themselves.

]]> By: Susan http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-435675 Susan Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:26:55 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-435675 I picked up my control strips yesterday and was give a form which I am to put the date, time and my blood sugars. I am to bring in this form each time I want them. I only test 2 times per day. Yet I am to give my private info to the pharmacy which will give it to insurance? I have just been told that this info is for Medicare. I do not think this is right. I picked up my control strips yesterday and was give a form which I am to put the date, time and my blood sugars. I am to bring in this form each time I want them. I only test 2 times per day. Yet I am to give my private info to the pharmacy which will give it to insurance?
I have just been told that this info is for Medicare.
I do not think this is right.

]]> By: Mike Mc http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-363469 Mike Mc Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:17:47 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-363469 I have read the comments here and feel we have to unite on this. I am calling my congressman today and e-mailing OBAMA. He wants to reduce healt care costs..let him start here I have read the comments here and feel we have to unite on this. I am calling my congressman today and e-mailing OBAMA. He wants to reduce healt care costs..let him start here

]]> By: BloodySweet! http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-226120 BloodySweet! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:08:37 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-226120 Hi: I loved this article. I checked out a couple of the links you offed. I'm not sure I would be interested in buying on ebay but I'm pretty sure most of those are coupon and rebaters reselling the items they get for free or nearly free. I did want to share a website that I found searching the net because I was desperate. Normally my Accu-check strips are about $108 for 100 plus tax!! Even Walmarts charges $97. So since I do not have insurance, I went looking and I found http://www.healthwarehouse.com. I got 100 strips for $51, then I found an online coupon code that reduced that to $47. the best part is that the shipping was completely free. (the order arrived in about 9 days so order accordingly.) Another thing I do Is peruse for FREE meter kits. Last sundays paper had coupons for One touch meters... but ONE TOUCH does not include strips at all. They include lancets, but no strips. Rite aid has their little cutie that fits right on the strip bottle (True2go)for $14.99 and their is a peelie on the box for $10 off and inside there is a $4.99 rebate. It does come with strips and lancets but no control solution. I'm not "officially" diagnosed since I do not have insurance. However 2 hours after lunch one day my brother (68 years old) who has trouble with his glucose and has a meter tested me. The number was 282!! About a week later he tested me 3 hours after dinner and again the numbers were high. So I got my own meter. I've mananged to keep it below 200 for the most part, and my averages are coming down slowly, but I'm pretty sure I have type2. Needless to say the medical industry is charging way too much for their products. I wonder what these same materials would cost in Canada or Mexico. Greedy Bastages. Thanks for listening.... wish me luck! Hi: I loved this article. I checked out a couple of the links you offed. I’m not sure I would be interested in buying on ebay but I’m pretty sure most of those are coupon and rebaters reselling the items they get for free or nearly free.

I did want to share a website that I found searching the net because I was desperate. Normally my Accu-check strips are about $108 for 100 plus tax!! Even Walmarts charges $97. So since I do not have insurance, I went looking and I found http://www.healthwarehouse.com. I got 100 strips for $51, then I found an online coupon code that reduced that to $47. the best part is that the shipping was completely free. (the order arrived in about 9 days so order accordingly.)

Another thing I do Is peruse for FREE meter kits. Last sundays paper had coupons for One touch meters… but ONE TOUCH does not include strips at all. They include lancets, but no strips. Rite aid has their little cutie that fits right on the strip bottle (True2go)for $14.99 and their is a peelie on the box for $10 off and inside there is a $4.99 rebate. It does come with strips and lancets but no control solution.

I’m not “officially” diagnosed since I do not have insurance. However 2 hours after lunch one day my brother (68 years old) who has trouble with his glucose and has a meter tested me. The number was 282!! About a week later he tested me 3 hours after dinner and again the numbers were high. So I got my own meter. I’ve mananged to keep it below 200 for the most part, and my averages are coming down slowly, but I’m pretty sure I have type2.

Needless to say the medical industry is charging way too much for their products. I wonder what these same materials would cost in Canada or Mexico. Greedy Bastages.

Thanks for listening…. wish me luck!

]]> By: Ravidas Raj http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-140408 Ravidas Raj Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:03:46 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-140408 I get my one touch ultra test strips from local <a href="http://www.soymedical.com" rel="nofollow"> Diabetes Supplies </a> store. They cost $5 less compare to other chain stores for me. I get my one touch ultra test strips from local
Diabetes Supplies store. They cost $5 less compare to other chain stores for me.

]]> By: Ravidas Raj http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-140406 Ravidas Raj Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:03:06 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-140406 I get my one touch ultra test strips from local <a HREF="http://www.soymedical.com" rel="nofollow"> Diabetes Supplies </a> store. They cost $5 less compare to other chain stores for me. < I get my one touch ultra test strips from local
Diabetes Supplies store. They cost $5 less compare to other chain stores for me.
<

]]> By: Ravidas Raj http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-140399 Ravidas Raj Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:58:59 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-140399 I get my One touch ultra test strips from local <a HREF="http://www.soymedical.com/disu.html" rel="nofollow"> Diabetes supplies </a> store. They cost $5 less than ordering online for me. I get my One touch ultra test strips from local
Diabetes supplies store. They cost $5 less than ordering online for me.

]]> By: isac http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/the-stinging-co.html/comment-page-2#comment-43403 isac Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:29:31 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/09/the-stinging-cost-of-glucose-test-strips/#comment-43403 There is exciting technology being developed to test blood glucose levels without a blood stick. It's different than the Glocon and Glucowatch approach. This would be like a PulseOx model where your finger goes in and the blood glucose level is displayed in seconds on the screen. no stick, no strip I hope it comes to the market soon. There is exciting technology being developed to test blood glucose levels without a blood stick. It’s different than the Glocon and Glucowatch approach.

This would be like a PulseOx model where your finger goes in and the blood glucose level is displayed in seconds on the screen.

no stick, no strip

I hope it comes to the market soon.

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