I recently switched to getting my test strips through a 3rd party DME vendor. They said they could send me my strips with no co-pay when my pharmacy always dinged me for a $25 fee. After a couple of months of receiving test strips and getting no bill, I reconfirmed that I did not owe them anything and that they were being paid. So far so good.
I still wasn't sure and being the skeptic that I am I check out their web cite and found that they also offered Medtronic Infusion supplies. OK, let's see.
I called them and they said, "sure, we just need a prescription from your doctor. We'll take care of it." I asked how much they charge for the supplies and based on my insurance their price was $20.00 - my 20% of my 80/20 co-pay insurance. I suggested that is too low and somehow incorrect. I was informed that they are OK with 5% over what the insurance company pays them -- while Medtronic takes the full 20%.
Since I have always bought directly from Medtronic I was very surprised -- not shocked. Of course I called Medtronic to beef about such practices and was politely told that was their policy. I was told they do offer financial assistance if you are unemployed, make less than X , and so forth and so on.
So, if you are paying full price to Medtronic, you may want to shop around!
I also get my supplies from SurePoint Medical. I pay $20 for three months worth of supplies. This includes lancets, testing strips, and I got a Onetouch Ultramini for free. I was also a little skeptical at first, but they are legit and mail everything to you every 3 months free shipping. I was also worried that I would run out of supplies for the amount but the strip containers they send me for the Onetouch actually holds 50 in a bottle instead of the usual 25 per bottle that I bought from my pharmacy.
ALSO I had a question because I am currently considering a pump because even though I have been diabetic for 8 years all of a sudden for the past two months I have been having either crazy lows or crazy highs and it has been very frustrating. My doctor thinks it will help keeping it back to the better control I had before. And I haven't changed any diet or anything. My issue is expenses, i'm currently on a tight budget (hince the doing the mailed supplies). I have blue cross blue shield but i'm afraid of how much it could actually cost out of pocket. Is it expensive?