Another disservice from the * Administration

[hyphenate]

Prescription Drugs--Diabetic Testing Supplies. As a person collecting disability, and as a diabetic, I'm supposed to get lancets, syringes and test strips in order to test my glucose level on a daily and regular basis.

I went to get the refill on my test strips today only to find that the fucking Medicare Plan D under which I am currently a patient, now won't pay for my testing strips. Considering I'm getting just a little over $12,000 a year TOTAL income on disability, there is no fucking way I can--or will--pay $73 a month for test strips. So, what do I do? Well, tomorrow it will be a call to the Prescription insurance which, as far as I'm concerned is a joke, and a call to my doctor to tell them that I won't be testing anymore unless there is an alternative to paying that kind of money for testing supplies.

You really have to wonder: how the fuck is anyone supposed to manage with the limited resources we've got, and also pay that kind of money for necessary materials. I give up. I will not and can not deal with this governmental bullshit, and it just makes me more angry to see those fuckers getting away with what boils down to attempted murder.

Something needs to be done, somehow or another, and if we can't win in November, then what the fuck are we going to be able to do anymore, at all? If we can not impeach and get rid of this regime, then they have won, and we have all lost permanently.

[YouthInAsia]

1. Im a pharmacist. Have you tried any of the generic strips?

They're much cheaper. Just as good.

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2. I've never tried any

because before my supplies were covered. And to be honest, I never even knew of the existence of generic strips.

[YouthInAsia]

3. Yes, there are many different brands. There are generic

meters also. What pharmacy do you use?
And what meter do you currently use?

[hyphenate]

4. CVS

I have the One Touch Ultra, if that helps.

[YouthInAsia]

5. Tomorrow, go to CVS and ask if they have any generic strips

that fit the One Touch Ultra. There are generic lancets also (VERY cheap.) If I recall, #100 generic strips were about $50.00, maybe a little higher (this is at walgreens.)

IM going to log onto CVS website and see if I can find them for you to save you some time. I'll post the link here when I find it. BRB.

[hyphenate]

6. Thanks for the help

It is appreciated. But I still can't get over the impact of this freaking Plan D. Something which was once completely taken care of is now a worry again. I had no insurance for nearly four years, during which time I couldn't afford any prescriptions. I have to say that I'm the kind who would rather not take any medicine at all if I can't afford to pay for it. It might not be a healthy way to live, but when it's a choice between food and drugs, food will win everytime.

[YouthInAsia]

8. Anything the government runs is a disaster

and this new medicare plan from our Fuhrer is nothing more than a financial gift for the drug companies.

If you wanna switch to generic strips (which are much cheaper) you must buy the coresponding generic meter (ALSO very cheap.) Tomorrow you can go to CVS and ask to see these:

meter: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=147524&previousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?page=2^Query=test+strips^ActiveCat=65^startLink=1

Strips: http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=158258&previousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?page=1^Query=test+strips^ActiveCat=65

They are just as good as the name brands and we have sold a ton of them at the Walgreens I work at. Also, if you're not satisfied w/the generic, the store (CVS) will fully refund your money.

Hope this helps, I deal with this everyday. Its a disaster, I know!

[hyphenate]

9. Thanks

I will seriously go after this tomorrow if the insurance fails to give me a good answer tomorrow on the phone. Either that, or I'll take a long drive to Canada! (Which really might be fun, because it's only a five hour or so drive.)

[YouthInAsia]

11. I actually have a home on Lake Erie, right over the border from

Buffalo. Drugs are wildly cheaper up there.

[oldlady]

7. isn't that the craziest thing

a tiny piece of paper, dipped into something that doesn't cost much, mixed up in giant batches-- for crying out loud, if this is what legal crap costs, just what is acid blotter paper going for these days? dang-- seriously sorry for you & our raped-by-greed citizens

[hyphenate]

10. Yeah

I remember the urine strips from many years ago when I was a CNA. And it's terrible about the strips because you pay a small fortune for them. I have no faith in any asshole who tries to tell me that Plan D is a good thing.