So just to make sure I logged on to my Caremark account on the internet. I searched out Freestyle strips and it said, as I stated above, I could get Freestyle strips at a higher price than the cost of Accu-Chek and One Touch. I do not think this is a case of Caremark not having them or not wanting to give them to you. It must have something to do with your plan.
I would ask whoever gives you the insurance (for example if it is a plan through a job talk to HR) who Caremark considers the “Benefit Administrator” and see what you can find there.
I know this is a pain but you have put in a lot of work already so you may as well see this to the end…
The pharmacy took the Freestyle Promise Program without going through insurance. It’s still quite expensive, but at least it’s not paying full price. I think I saved $150 on a months worth of test strips. I still payed $278.00 for the month, which I think is ridiculous.
I’m going to keep chipping away at them. Maybe they’ll cover me just to get rid of me
Patra- WAY WAY WAY too much (for me anyway). Like I said before I am a cheap skate. If you cannot figure something else out I would consider using their preferred meter and manually inputting the numbers. Shoot at this price I would buy the Wal-Mart brand Reli-On
I have seen a shift away from Freestyle strips/meters covered by insurance recently. Wonder if their negotiating people made the insurance people mad?
Patra- No problem. I guess if you take this every place it CAN go you will at least feel ok about it at the end (whichever way you decoide to go) even though you may not get the results you want. At least you will know there was nothing more you could do about it.
I had a similar situation once and being a pest did pay off for me.
Ok - I’ve got my answers. Caremark is not going to cover me. However, after my husband got on the phone (he’s a lot meaner than i am grin) and got someone at Blue Cross to transfer him to a manager, we finally got her to reluctantly tell us that if we would go through a durable medical supply company then they would pay 80% and my co-pay would be 20%. Initially they told us several times that we HAD to go through Caremark and use one of the preferred brands.
After calling several durable medical supply companies and being told no, they don’t carry Freestyle, my husband called FreeStyle and they helped to find a supplier for us.
Many hours of frustration here. I hope this helps anyone who might be in the same boat.
Glad you got some resolution.
I just wrote a letter to my HMO yesterday and asked the appeal board why I have to go through a certain company to purchase my pump.
That company blocks me from any trade in credit or financial assistance.
My huband said I should do it, and what can it hurt?
My endo was upset to learn how this has created such a problem for me as I really need the $700 credit Animas offers.
Your posting hopefully will help someone else.
We’re all in this together and we need to work together!
I’m not sure who you go through but all my supplies come through CCS Medical (I have BCBS near Philly). They automatically put everything through as DME, right now I technically don’t even work with a pharmacy.
I’m the same - the pdm, pods and strips are all covered under DME. It’s kind of a pain to not be able to use the big “chain” pharmacies (that are open 24/7). But I did find a local pharmacy that is a DME supplier that will order them for me. It’s great to be able to support local business
Abbot told me that I can submit the receipts for the test strips to the Promise Program using the form from their website. I haven’t done that, but “they” say it can be done
It’s just amazing how different things can be isnt it?
I’m jealous too…over folks who have their pumps paid for.
Seems like for lots of us, we have some good things going and some not so good.
I’m not sure I have found too many diabetics with the perfect plan!
