Tips For Saving Money With Diabetes

Let's face it, most of us have probably faced down the financial burden that Diabetes carries. Test strips, insulin, pills, lancets, syringes, pump supplies...the list just goes on and on and on. Thousands of dollars per year from our own pockets, required to maintain our health and our lives. When I was diagnosed 15 years ago my parents paid $600 CDN for a Lifescan Glucometer. I was raised by a single mother who could barely afford to clothe her children and yet she scraped the bottom of the barrel to buy my insulin. I started working full time at 16 to relieve her of some of the burden. And it didn't end there; each time I start a new job I have to make sure that I have ample supplies to last me the three to six months period before health benefits kick in. After college, I was sure I was going to have to return to MDI (multiple daily injections) because I couldn't be on my mother's insurance anymore.

We've all been there. Maybe you're even there right now.

So let's talk money saving strategies:

1. Do not pay for a glucometer. I know, it looks so nice and new sitting on the shelf in your pharmacy, with it's buttons and screens. And $60 is worth it, right? Nope. Not when you can easily get it for free. Clip coupons; Diabetes magazines and even the pharmacy flyers often offer deals, such as a free meter with the purchase of 100 test strips (you would've bought them anyway, right?). But the easiest way to acquire a new glucometer for free is to simply ask. Contact the company that makes the device and tell them that you are interested in using their product; throw in the fact that you'll also be using their test strips (which is the majority of their revenue) and chances are you'll be receiving a nice new box via purolator within the next few days. (This is also valid for insulin pens, injecting paraphernalia and lancing devices)
2. Ask for samples. Lancets, needle tips, syringes, infusion sets, reservoirs, whatever. Again, contact the company and tell them that you'd like to try their product, would they be willing to send you samples? You'd be surprised at how much money you save.
3. Visit Diabetes Expo's. The CDA, the ADA. These often include trade shows; rows and rows of booths where companies offer freebies of everything from lancets, to food, to coupons. Bring a backpack and stock up.
4. Diabetes support websites such as Insulin Pumpers often collect supplies from members for those in need. Join up!
5. Buy test strips from eBay. And while you're there, pick up some infusion sets, a medical ID bracelet and a case to keep your insulin cool. And then treat yourself to dinner with the extra money you've saved.
6. Contact your local Diabetes organization, such as the Canadian Diabetes Association. These organizations often collect paraphernalia for those in need, or they can direct you toward local resources that are able to help.
7. Purchase medications online. Canadian online pharmacies, in particular, are beneficial for American consumers and will sell medication to you for a significantly reduced cost. You may save as much as 30%!
8. Talk to your CDE. He/she may be able to assist you with the procurement of injecting devices, glucometers, lancets, etc. An appeal to your physician or endo may also help you acquire the medications necessary to manage your condition. Drug companies provide physicians with thousands of dollars worth of samples every year.
9. Buy generic drugs. Name brands on medications are the same as those on clothing; they may look better, but they don't work any differently.
10. Contact the drug manufacturer. Many drug companies are willing to offer assistance to those in need, all you have to do is ask.
11. Buy multiple prescriptions at one time. Purchasing three months worth of drugs at once saves you three times the dispensing fee imposed by pharmacies. You also don't have to worry about running out for months at a time!
12. Don't skip medications! You may think this saves you money, but in the long run it's going to cost your health!

If you have any tips for saving money, please email me or use the comment section to add your idea.

Comments

[Sandra Miller]

Tiffany--

Thanks. A recurring nightmare has us without insurance (or Joseph alone, without insurance), and not able to afford all of his supplies.

This post provides ever more reassurance that we (and he) could handle it.

Sandra

p.s. Though this doesn't really add anything new-- we actually have gotten all of our glucometers (and meters for his school as well) from Joseph's endo just by asking for them. Sadly, they didn't have a Precision ketone meter (that, I procured for a pittance on ebay :-)

The cheapest ketone strips I could find for the meter came from this Canadian supplier.

[Bethany]

can you really find pump supplies on ebay? ha - maybe i could sell some of my pump supplies on ebay - i have 10 boxes of extra quicksets for minimed paradigm pumps and 10 boxes of reserviors ... maybe i could make some cash and then i could buy some of my prescriptions haha

[Tiffany]

You really can, Bethany :) Go onto eBay and search for "Infusion Sets" and you'll find several listings.

I too have been tempted to sell supplies on eBay. If you do, let us know what the outcome is. Alternatively, you could donate them to insulin pumpers or the ADA.

[Bethany]

lol my mom thinks that it's illegal to sell them on ebay ... mmm ... makes me wonder lol

[Minnesota Nice]

Great tips! Thank you.

[Sarah]

I try to not let the financial obligations of my diabetes get me down but I have to admit, sometimes it is hard....It seems like the higher my expectations of myself are, the more I have to spend! On another note, I thought of this post the other day when I cashed in with my diabetes educator for a brand spankin new freestyle flash to take with me when I go running...I love new stuff! Now if only I didn't have to spend so darn much on the test strips for it....

[Trish]

one other way to save money is to buy your insulin at Sam's pharmacy if you don't have insurance that covers it -

you don't have to be a member to use the Sam's pharmacy

(you can save a lot of money on other prescriptions as well)

[Willie Pope]

Anyone with diabetes should check and see if he or she qualifies for free diabetics supplies. Visit http://www.free-diabetic-supplies.net to see if you qualify.

[Willie Pope]

Anyone with diabetes should check and see if he or she qualifies for free diabetics supplies. Visit http://www.free-diabetic-supplies.net to see if you qualify.

[scott wilson]

i can relate to the story that you wrote,but even though everything work out for you my story is different ,i am a singel parent of 2 boys that are diabetic's and i have had it for 37 years i work full time and strugle every month there is no help for us no matter who u ask i here the same same thing all the time i make to much money 28,000 a year is to much money ,so i have to skip my shots so my boys get theres.so please dont sauger coat the disease.because there is nothing sweet about it .thanks for letting me vent .scott from ohio