One touch strips for Ping vs Freestyle test strips question, Is ther a copay program with One Touch like Freestyle has? Options

[Cyclone Brian]

I have a question about test strip programs I hope someone can help me.....

Have been a pumper since 2007. I started out with a Deltec Cozmo that finally decided to completely fail on me a couple months ago. The tester on the pump used the freestyle strips and I like the fact they don't need as much blood as other strips. I stumbled on the freestyle copay card through my doctor where after insurance is applied they will pay down your copay up to $35 / month. So my $50 copay turns into $15 / month for testing. After my deltec went on the fritz, I went with the Animas Ping and love it except for one thing......

The ping uses the One touch strips that apparently have no program like the freestyle one. Talked to the Animas rep and was told that the one touch strips are on a preferred network so changes are my copay would be lower so I called my insurance and they said I will have a $50 copay regardless of what strips I use. So I called One Touch and they some sort of promotion to help pay for the new type of testing strips One Touch just came out with but they don't work with the Ping so that is out. She said to go to the website to see if I apply..... nothing

So now I am still buying the freestyle trips for $15 a month but have to carry two meters. I would like to go to one touch but $35 / month equates out to $420 / year. Blows my mind what we diabetics pay for supplies for the pump, the CGMS and their supplies and for the testing strips. Anything helps

So anyone run into this and find a solution?

Thanks in advance

[JohnG]

I have a question about test strip programs I hope someone can help me.....

Have been a pumper since 2007. I started out with a Deltec Cozmo that finally decided to completely fail on me a couple months ago. The tester on the pump used the freestyle strips and I like the fact they don't need as much blood as other strips. I stumbled on the freestyle copay card through my doctor where after insurance is applied they will pay down your copay up to $35 / month. So my $50 copay turns into $15 / month for testing. After my Deltec went on the fritz, I went with the Animas Ping and love it except for one thing......

The ping uses the One touch strips that apparently have no program like the freestyle one. Talked to the Animas rep and was told that the one touch strips are on a preferred network so changes are my copay would be lower so I called my insurance and they said I will have a $50 copay regardless of what strips I use. So I called One Touch and they some sort of promotion to help pay for the new type of testing strips One Touch just came out with but they don't work with the Ping so that is out. She said to go to the website to see if I apply..... nothing

So now I am still buying the freestyle trips for $15 a month but have to carry two meters. I would like to go to one touch but $35 / month equates out to $420 / year. Blows my mind what we diabetics pay for supplies for the pump, the CGMS and their supplies and for the testing strips. Anything helps

So anyone run into this and find a solution?

Thanks in advance

LifeScan is the 800 lb gorilla so many of the other players are willing to discount their product. LifeScan also owns the
clinical market (hospital meters) so they have no reason to discount and probably set the high side of the pricing structure.

I know MM is working on getting a second meter FDA approved so people will at least have one other choice...I doubt J&J will do this since
they own LifeScan and Animas.

[Liz]

I know MM is working on getting a second meter FDA approved so people will at least have one other choice...I doubt J&J will do this since
they own LifeScan and Animas.

Minimed will start using the Bayer Contour Link meter in the United States. This is the meter they provide everywhere else. I keep checking to see if there's any updated info about the change but haven't seen anything in awhile. Besides the UltraLink, Minimed pumpers can also use the NovaMax Link meter. That is the same meter as the original MM link meter made by BD.

[tazm21]

How many strips do you use in a month? My State insurance will only pay for 6 strips a day (and I test about 8 - 10x) so I buy additional strips between prescriptions on e-Bay. You can get some great deals for strips that are going to expire in a month or two... I will always use them before the expiration date and get a great price. Might want to check it out.

Teresa

[Cyclone Brian]

How many strips do you use in a month? My State insurance will only pay for 6 strips a day (and I test about 8 - 10x) so I buy additional strips between prescriptions on e-Bay. You can get some great deals for strips that are going to expire in a month or two... I will always use them before the expiration date and get a great price. Might want to check it out.

Teresa

I never thought of that as an option. Thank you very much.

What I have figured out since my original post is that there is not a program with the one touch strips like there is with the Freestyle Promise card, certain pharmacies have automatic pay help for non preferred prescriptions like this one. Hy-Vee as a program that I forgot the name that would pay up to $25 on those strips. They are checking on it and getting back to me. Otherwise the one touch rep told me she would find something. So we'll see......

Thank you for the replies