A recent insurance company switch has presented some interesting issues, including one that I’ve heard about but never faced before: a limit on the number of blood test strips I’m allowed each month. Although I typically test 8 to 10 times a day, my new coverage dictates that I’m only allowed a certain number of strips per month and that essentially translates to 3.4 tests a day. You can see the full story by checking out my latest post at The Diabetic’s Corner Booth, and please let me know what you think about this and your own experiences in dealing with these limits or BG Test Strip Coverage overall.
Hi Michael. I know exactly how you feel. My health insurance only pay for 100 strips a month (I then still have to make a co-payment on the 100 strips!!!). My endo wrote a motivation letter to increase my strips. No go!! In South Africa, government does not look after Diabetics… So sad… I cant afford more strips, have to try and stay under control by testing 3.4 times a day (not easy…) Kind Regards Riana
Michael, there are a couple of things I don’t understand about testing and maybe the insurance company can do us a favor by disallowing payments. Why are the test strips so expensive - the cheapest strips I’ve ever used run about one U.S. dollar a peice. Is this technology so complicated that worldwide, engineers cannot develop affordable alternative test equipment? I can get my insurance company to cover an excess of lancets but not test strips because they are so expensive. In 2008 the director-general of WHO said that commercialized health industries have no real incentive to provide preventative care as profit is derived from treatment, not prevention. Those of us with diabeties know that rationing test strips is dangerous, as feedback from our bodies is not reliable. Knowing that diabeties educators recommend testing at least 6 times a day, why is there no uproar from the ADA about the insurance denials or the cost of supplies to diabetics in general?
Good point from both duckfiabetes (hee) and Alan…the comment about ebay is worth looking in to…I wonder if you’ve then been able to get re-imbirsement from your MSA account for the ebay service? Alan, quote from the medsupplyguide “Its the research, development, and testing of the manufacturers that makes them expensive (at least that’s what they say). Its also interesting that the price of most glucose monitors have decreased as of late. Hmm. You ever bought an inkjet cartridge or a razor. Looks like they’re following the same trend. Give away the equipment and make money on the supplies.” It would be wonderful if we diabetics could have an advocate group that would work on our behalf to improve these horrible pricing schemes - oh yeah, the ADA?
By the way, one of my State’s Senator’s is Susan Collins who says she makes diabeties a priortity project - would any of you mind if I used some of your posting comments from this thread in an email to her?