meds, tests, meters, strips, insulin, etc cost? Having my first real visit with my new MD this AM; she wants me to start taking Co Q 10, b 12, magnesium, along with the 12 pills I take in the AM already.
There is no way I can afford any otc supplements for anything. If she can’t write is as a script, and my insurance will pick up part of it, then it can’t be done. I figured even the smallest amounts will cost me an extra $35 a month and that’s not going to fit into the budget anywhere. Do you suppose they know how much all of this costs? Or do they just not know, or not care? Now I have to call her back and let her know that these things aren’t going to happen, unless she writes them as scripts, and I don’t think she will do that, and then it’s questionable as to whether insurance will pick them up.
But on a happy note, my A1C was 6.5!!! YIPEE
Most insurances will not touch supplements that I know of, save if its for life such as Iron or the like, CQ10 I know my own insurance does cover as well as B12 but thats about it when it comes to supplements that are covered. You might be able to call the company who you are with and see if they can give you a list of supplements that are covered - its worth a shot.
They don’t know. I told my GP how much strips cost out of pocket at the local pharmacy, and he almost fell out.
I don’t think they have any clue, honestly. Which is sad, they should at least have a ball park figure for how much the essentials cost. Write out a list, hand it over and see her reaction. I about fainted when I added up our out of pocket vs. how much things would cost without insurance. It is obscene. Diabetes is an expensive disease.
I think it’s mixed. My endo does know and gets extra supplies for people who can’t afford everything. My wife has a doc for different reasons but she has no clue. I won’t tell you how many she wanted my wife on for various issues but is was upwards of $800/month! We couldn’t do that so had to pick and choose. If it helps and you may know about it already but there is a discount site called Vitacost (http://www.vitacost.com/) that has pretty much everything on there. We use is a lot and get them in just a couple days with regular shipping. Best of luck to you.
My endo does know the cost of medicines and supplies. She always checks my insurance before she writes prescriptions and if they dont cover name brand meds(synthroid) she gives me samples every three months. I have had to be on vitamin D OTC supplements and she wrote it as a prescription. Luckly walmart billed my insurance and I only had to pay a $3 co pay. I may be just lucky to have such great docs because my family doctor does the same. He always looks to see what my insurance is before he writes out anything. I was surprised at his knowledge of different insurance policies and med coverage. You might want to mention it to your doc and see what he can do. Maybe he can provide samples, coupons, or see if he can get your insurance to cover it.
I would say some know, and most don’t. The ones who know it is because they have their own chronic condition to manage. In my situation, I was advised to take Metamucil, and for me… a person on a very limited, tight budget, I could not afford such a luxury. I wrote the Metamucil people an e-mail about it… Explained that I was on foodstamps, and my husband and I have both been out of the job for a long time… And they sent me a one time good will coupon for $15 for any size of Metamucil (so I got the big kahoona of the sizes!) 
(The bottle is still not out, and that was forever ago. lol) Not that it would last forever… but you could try writing these people, and saying “Is there anything I can do, or any way in which I can get help, or anything you could suggest?” You’d be surprised what could happen.
That is so true, there are a lot of companies, that are willing to help. They see it as a tax write off, but it can be very useful for people on a budget. Plus always mention it to the docs, they get so many samples of products, that they sometimes expire. It never hurts to ask!
In a word, yes. Great A1c, by the way
I think some does…some doesn’t. My first doctor prescribed me the most expensive branded glimiperide/metformin in the market (at least where I am). My insurance does not cover any medication outside hospital confinement. So on the third month I asked my doctor if she can prescribe me generic once (which she could have done at the first place) . I told her the price and she was surprised. I joked around and said to her that her “supplies” are being given as samples and FREE from med representatives from pharmaceutical companies…that’s why she doesn’t know. Later I learned that she is an endorser that particular pharma company…sigh.