Tag Archives: test strips

Really?

January 4, 2013 – 9:37 am

Okay, first rant of the new year coming up…

I’m beyond needing to order test strips. I’ve resorted to using my old meter because I knew they would be expensive right now. To explain this would take a month of blog posts, so I won’t bore you with it here. The situation is this: I have a pretty great prescription plan at work, but there’s this time, usually in the middle of my plan year (which is now), when I have to pay for everything out of pocket for a period of time. And that time is now.

Well, I decided that I really do need to order new strips for my current meter, so I told myself I would bite the bullet and order the strips. Then I found out how much it would cost:

TestStrips

That’s nearly $1.00 USD per strip, people. I guess I should be happy they only want to give me an 88 day supply this time (in case you’re wondering, 7 50-strip packages equals 350 strips, divided by 88 days = 3.98 strips per day).

I’m all for companies making a profit on their product. But I also believe in a little fair play. I know it makes me sound like a “free market capitalist”, but if you’re going to produce a product that’s so expensive, shouldn’t I have the ability to shop around for the same product elsewhere? Either from another prescription provider or another manufacturer? Or both?

I know that the manufacturers will say that their product is proprietary, and they shouldn’t have to share it, and they’re doing everything they can to “create efficiencies” and keep costs to consumers as low as possible. It’s still a test strip, manufacturers. You’ve been making and marketing test strips for 25 years or more here in the USA. I grant that accuracy is an issue, and I’m glad you’re all working on it. But can’t you just make the strips you’re already making more accurate? And can’t all of you make the same test strip, and work on making that more accurate? Sounds like that alone could “create efficiencies”.

My take: Profit away, test strip manufacturers and prescription providers. But if it’s going to cost so much for something I really need, you should be willing to show me how much of a profit there is in 88 days worth of test strips. And I should be able to search for the same product elsewhere, from multiple vendors. Trust me… I’m going to be a loyal customer for the foreseeable future. I just think that when push comes to shove, diabetes necessity should trump profit (and accessibility should too). Is that too much to ask?
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Diabetes | Also tagged , , | Comments (3)

Just Wondering.

September 25, 2012 – 7:03 am

I received an incentive from my prescription plan this weekend. Go ahead and read it… I’ll still be here, humming America the Beautiful.

You’re back? Great.

So nice of the Medco/Express Scripts conglomeration to make this offer to me (by the way, I ordered another Accu-Chek Nano and received it last week– great timing). I’m sure they’re getting incentives of their own from Roche, makers of the Accu-Chek, and Johnson & Johnson, makers of the One Touch. That’s the way business works.

Maybe I’m overly sensitive these days (it’s possible), but I can’t help thinking about the millions out there to whom a free meter and lower-cost test strips might mean the difference between life and… well, you know. Some of those millions are right here in the United States. Others are living in third world squalor, where every day is a struggle for survival in so many ways.

Why are they less deserving than I am?

These companies have their own humanitarian efforts, of course:

Johnson & Johnson
http://www.jnj.com/connect/caring/corporate-giving/

Roche
http://www.roche.com/responsibility/society/humanitarian_aid.htm
For additional fun reading (NOT), click on the Drug Donation Policy link on this page.

I don’t want to be too critical of these companies. It’s always hard to say “Yes, we will give to this, but not to that”. Someone is going to be unhappy. As far as I can tell, both of these companies have resources dedicated to giving in a smart and measurable way to those who need help.

I guess all I’m saying is that if I have to pay 20 or 30 or 50 dollars to get my meter, and a portion of that money can then be used help get meters and test strips, or insulin and syringes, or whatever else to people who desperately need it, what’s wrong with that? And before you say “If you feel that way, why don’t you just donate the money directly”, I’m already doing that. I’m talking about doing something on top of that.

Speaking just for myself: If I have the choice between meter A with an offer like that above, or meter B that comes with a cost, but part of that cost is dedicated to helping others in need, I’m probably going to go with meter B. I’ll even seek out that meter in the vetting process because of the giving. But I’m funny that way.

I’m just wondering… would you make a choice like that? Do you wonder about fairness too?
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Healthcare | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)