Well my insurance decided they don’t like me saving them, and myself money by buying generic truetest strips, and sent me a letter saying they won’t cover them at the end of the year. Their letter said the preferred covered alternative is lifescan (one touch). I havent had good experiences with onetouch, so I’ve been looking at other alternatives to see if they’d cover them, the ones that have caught my eye are Contour Next and Accu chek Aviva Plus. I’d be interested to hear about people’s luck with those 2 brands… Hopefully my insurance would cover one of them. I don’t know why they’d make me switch to a much more expensive brand… Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Merry Christmas everyone.
Sinilar Problem sam. I wil have to decide whether to stay with the Bayer contour Next meter and strips, which I find are more accurate than the one-touch ultra link. I have by tomorrow to decide which one to order from my local pharmacy, or from my supplier. I am having surgery on Monday and will not be able to do anything like order test strips on that week at all:Too groggy from the pain meds I have been told. The Bayer contour next will not be covered by my insurance as of January 1. They will only cover One touch meters and strips from Life scan. I have an ancient one touch meter ultra Link that still works, but I prefer the Bayer Contour Next Link system. That meter appears to be more accurate. I would have to buy a new One Touch ultra link meter, as I really do not trust the ancient One touch I have. I have to order these strips before or on Saturday, or I will have to pay out of pocket for the stock-up stash of test strips. I can get the Contour link strips from my local pharmacy right away as long as I call it in by the 31st. If I call b medical supplier chosen by my insurance( Edgepark tomorrow, I can get the One touch ultra Link strips sent. Either of the strips I call in will not be covered on January 1, due to the deductible not haven been met. So do I go with the one I know will be covered through the year (One-touch strips, which I do not find to be as accurate;, or do I just fill the script for the newer, more accurate Bayer Contour strips, backed my Minimed ,pump manufacturer, but unknown as to whether I can get a prior auth for further orders? I guess I have to go back to the ancient not quite as accurate meter..GRRRR
Any suggestions for me and
Sam, tu friends?
God Bless,
Brunetta
Sam - I use the Accu-check Nano which I believe is the same strip as the Aviva Plus. I like the Accu-check better than the One Touch but I'm certainly not crazy about them. I much prefer Freestyle but my insurance company won't cover those...
Brunetta - Good luck with the surgery. You'll be in my prayers.
Maurie
Thanks for the replies. It looks like the insurance will only cover the onetouch. I have a secondary prescription coverage that’ll cover anything except freestyle, but I’d have to cover the higher copay by myself… Guess I will just have to mull over how much my distaste for onetouch is actually worth in terms of my willingness to pay out of pocket for something else. I really don’t understand why they’d cut off coverage for one of the very cheapest brands on the market and force a switch to one of the most expensive… Does anyone have enough insight on prescription coverage to explain that one to me?
Insurance companies make side deals with different strip manufacturers. In Boston, Blue Cross Blue Shield will not cover Freestyle but one of the other large insurers (I think Tufts) won't cover anything but Freestyle...
I really liked my One Touch, until I made the switch to Bayer Contour Next. I'm a horrible bleeder and some days I can squeeze and squeeze and squeeze and not get enough blood. The Bayer Contour Next lets you apply more blood if you do not have enough on the strip, AND the amount of blood required is very small. I love it's rechargeable, and it really does keep a charge for a nice long while. I'm really happy with it overall. My reason for change was Medtronic gave me a free meter offer, cause all their new pumps are linked to Contour Next. So I'm like hey its free why not check it out.
I think it was Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia would only cover One Touch. My insurance I have now, is pretty flexible, BUT my strips have to come from Liberty Medical, which I do NOT like. Oh well, I get really good coverage so it's a small price to pay.
I Will call my insurance and see if there is anyway I can get a prior auth. from my doc for the Bayer strips. I greatly prefer the Bayer contour strips: and just as Christy says, I waste too many strips with the one touch ultra. Is preference and accuracy worth it to the insurance companies?
God Bless,
Brunetta
Thanks, Maurie