Not really my case, but I understand. I was diagnosed in college and then went into a full-time job, so I had an insurance plan, an HMO. Then I went to law school and had no insurance. That was tough. Then got employed after school again with insurance again, another HMO.
Now I work for myself and pay for a PPO plan. I read the fine print and, as I said above, I called my insurance to figure out exactly how I was being charged. Some people don't know, but I'm pretty meticulous about knowing how my plan works and what my options are.
I use a pump now and haven't taken regular by syringe in years. I used to buy regular out of pocket when I was in law school. It was pretty affordable. The newer fast acting insulins just aren't cheap.
Well, I'm not forced but the option is to pay it myself. For my generics I go through my drugstore's plan because a 90 day supply is cheaper for those pills. I use that because it's cheaper, so I know I don't have to go through my insurance. But for my insulin, it's the cheapest option.
I use a pump and I'm in the habit of using as much of a vial as possible. I'm definitely not throwing out half empty vials.
At the rates you're quoting, if I opted out of my prescription coverage, I'd be paying the full amount for four vials: roughly $532.00. Instead, for four vials, I pay $150 and insurance picks up the rest. It's not cheap, but it's cheaper than out of pocket. Insurance also covers my pump supplies which are very expensive, doctor visits with a co-pay and lab tests with a co-pay. It's not ideal. The US health system is a f%^king mess.
My point in all of this is simply my pharmacist was preaching to the choir and was preaching to the choir on a bad day. I'm well aware that Humalog and the rest of what I have to pay for to manage my diabetes is expensive. With what I pay for medical insurance, I could have my own apartment and a very nice car. But I have to make sure that I'm insured, so I don't spend everything I earn covering medical costs.
I switched from Novolog to Novolin R last summer and I like it better. And it's less than half the price. I keep thinking maybe I should switch again, to Humulin R... that's less than $25/vial.
That is very true, unfortunately there ARE no generics yet for Humalog/Novolog. There might be a slight difference in price between the two brands, but generally its not much. What you can purchase for $25 dollars a vial at Wal-Mart is only the NPH/R/ 70/30 inusulins. Until the patents run out on Humalog/Novolog we're ALL stuck at paying a higher price for them. About the only thing we can do is check the teir levels these drugs are on your insurance. Novolog is a slightly lower teir for me on my plan, however its a personal choice I personally don't like the Novo nordisk brands, I hated Levemir and it did NOT work for me as well as Lantus did. So you can either go with the lower teir drugs, the preferred brand, OR if like in my situation you prefer one brand over the other, or one brand works better than the other, pay the slightly higher copay.
For me, Novolin R works faster than Novolog did. And people used to use Regular in pumps- pumps have been around longer than Humalog or Novolog (or Apidra).
yes Regular can be used in a pump. Things like duration time would have to be adjusted, but it can be done. Regular also has a different peak time than the rapid acting insulins today, but it is feasible to use Regular insulin with a pump.
I know that the recommended insulin for my medtronic pump is Novolog. I use military pharmacies for everything but pump supplies. They did not carry Novolog for a long time, so I used Humalog in my pump. When Novolog was made available, I switched.
This has nothing to do with this conversation about cost of insulin and which insulin works better in pumps, but the original post reminded me of a situation back when I was first diagnosed. I was at the hospital going through classes learning about D and insulin and all that and my mom and I went down to the hospital cafe to get something to eat. I ordered a diet coke and the waitress looked at me and asked why I was getting diet because I was so skinny. I remember thinking at the time that someone who works in a hospital should be more sensitive and shouldn't make comments like that to people who come into the cafe. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it, but it obviously made an impression on me because I remember it 22 years later!
That happened to me, shortly after I was diagnosed. Does it really matter what ANYONE chooses to drink at dinner. I mean would you say to someone overweight, why are you drinking that Coke, wouldnt you rather have a diet coke instead? It's just crazy the things people say, and I guess they THINK its an innocent comment, but really just serve the drink and keep your comments to yourself.
re it not being about the cost of insulin or what sort of insulin can be used in a pump? Good. Notice that I’ve not replied to those.
Yeah. That was my point. It was an insensitive comment from the POV that I kmow damn well that Humalog is expensive. I probably won’t care 22 years from now, but I wasn’t thrilled.
How are you feeling now Regina? I know how it is really hard to take other's comments when you are having a bad day. Praying you can have a better tommorroe.
Thanks for checking in. I had a much better day today. I still don't think I would have taken that pharmacist's comments well. I'm sort of short with people who opine about type 1 diabetes and say insensitive stuff. I was just so riled up on Saturday that he got the grimace. ;)
Don't know exactly. However, from what I've read it's simply not worth it for pharmaceutical companies to develop generic insulins or they'd be doing it. I didn't really get exactly why though.
you should have medicare investigate him. Under the law, a doctor cannot prescribe a med that is not a generic unless he can prove a good reason. If he is not doing that he is screwing his patients and someone should report him.
you folks just got me to say a prayer of THANK YOU!!! I have such good insurance coverage. Now that we are retired, my husband has insurance thru his retirement program. They dont offer it anymore to new employees because of the cost but he was grandfathered in. If he was still working, the copays are out of this world!! they have gone up about 200% than they were when he was working. Hospital visits before the increase were $200. emergency room, waived $50.00 if admitted. my insulin was $75.00 a month but now it is $50.00 copay for hospital er, waived if admitted but still $200. for inpatient. my insulin is now $25.00 for a 3 month supply. I use huge amts of insulin because I am on prednizone for my lungs. so at 9 vials a month, I would be dead by now cuz I could never afford my meds. thank you for reminding me how fortunate I am. :)
Notice that I’ve not replied to those.