I’ve been working for a particular company as a dispatcher for over 6 years. The pay is okay, but one of the things that has kept me working there is that all diabetes stuff so far has been FREE of any copays thanks to a special program!
Well, due to increasing healthcare costs, effective 1/1/2023 we will now be responsible for standard copays for EVERYTHING!
TOTALLY Sucks!
Right now I’m on:
Ozemic
Fiasp pens for bolusing
Novolog for insulin delivery via Omnipod 5
Dexcom G6
All of that used to be free! Now I have a $45/115 copay for either 30 or 90 day supply EACH! Ouch!
I’ve done some research and Ozempic seems to have a copay card bringing it down to $25 for 90 day supply
Fiasp and Novolog seem to have a copay card for $25/each/monthly
But I can’t find anything for Dexcom G6 nor Omnipod 5.
If anyone knows of any programs or copay assistance grants or anything, I’m all ears!
I’m glad you had that while it lasted.
I have good insurance and I pay 80% of most of my diabetic supplies. I also get a discount through my insurer but still I pay about $100 per month just for tubing and insets and cartridges and dexcom.
Then insulin costs me $30 per month.
Your insurance company might have ways of saving for example if you get dexcom via pharmacy instead of through durable med equip you might get it for less, depending of your copay. For me it ends up more that way because my durable stuff is discounted
Also you might want to change insurance if your company allows. First find out what each insurer pays out.
Your situation for past several years (no co-pays) is better than 99.9% of the rest of the US.
Using discount cards is certainly possible but note that the discount programs are often only for a fixed period only, often 2 years max.
Your new co-pays sound on the high end but perhaps the high co-pays mean no deductibles.
For insulin in particular, some states have recently passed laws capping per month expenditures.
It sounds like you may be a local/county/state government employee, possibly unionized, possibly a public safety employee/union. Check what union representation you may have. Let your union rep know what you think about the new copays.
Check if there is an “open enrollment” for alternative plans that may be total lower cost for you. Many government pans have open enrollment options at this time of year.
No matter what, stock up on all supplies before the end of the year. If you’ve already got a stockpile, do whatever you can to make it bigger.
If your actual insurance carrier is changing, you may have to go through a new round of pre-authorizations early in the year. Even better reason to stock up on all supplies because early January is the worst time of year to get pre-authorizations processed as all docs are out of town and the pharmacies/insurance companies totally overloaded.
Maybe we could calculate what % of your income medical expenses amount to and then find you a job w/ that pay increase. Except, then the insurance plan will change. What’s your premium/deductible? Maybe its not worth changing.
Right now not worth it. For meds, no deductible and it depends where it falls on the formulary which they won’t have out until at least January. The rest of the plan isn’t bad at like $800 deductible and then most stuff is 90/10 unless wellness related then free. MD is like $35 or $45 specialist copay. So I guess all in all I’ve been fortunate and have to join the ranks of the real world and start paying for things like a big boy. I enjoyed my freebies while I had them.
This is one of those things that gets me fired up. The expense of a disease now of wanted or deserved! And than I can’t tell you how many times I hear people say they have good insurance coverage and than the stories start.
I have good coverage but everything costs and everything is a battle. Does it cover everything? Yes, but always a battle. And then you have to use the drugs on their list or pay more.
I haven’t found any programs I have been eligible for due to age, income level etc. And my coverage is ok, especially when I hear what others pay. My insulin cost is $150 for seven bottles every 3 months and my Victoza is $150 every 3 months. Hard to swallow $300 every 3 months. Mine plan is with a large company so numbers help keep costs down but jumping through hoops all the time.
Sorry to see someone who had it go good, now has to pay and fight like most of us. I feel for you and the shock you are dealing with. Just be ready for the fights and the battles and hours on the phone. Good luck!
Yes, unfortunately being diabetic is really expensive. But insurance covers most of the costs, and that’s good. Many different associations also support diabetics with medication and financially. In addition, I always try to find stores where I can buy everything a bit cheaper, so that I can save my money. Most of the time I order the necessary medicines online, as I can get a discount there as well. One of these stores is https://walgreenspharmacies.com/.
What’s your premium/deductible? Maybe its not worth changing.