Guest guest Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 I know the county health care here doesn't cover ANY of the testing supplies. They'll write you a script for them, but the county pharmacies won't fill them. You have to take them to an outside pharmacy and pay full price for them. And then I found out that I don't even need the script to get them at Walgreen's anyway. *rolls eyes* So I have to wonder why they wasted the time and energy. Needless to say, when the doc wanted me testing a minimum of 3 times a day, it was costly. Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 And I thought I have it bad in Texas. Aazari, where do you live? I was astounded I have so little trouble - but I APPEAR to have been put in the program at clinic where I'll get a free meter and strips for $5. I also found out that it pays to shop around - we have a supermarket in the area that specializes in selling what alot of people buy for bottom prices - their prices for meters are half what Walgreen's are for the store meter and some other meters, and the strips about 2/3. Yours, Dora Austin, Texas villandra@... Re: multiple tests I know the county health care here doesn't cover ANY of the testing supplies. They'll write you a script for them, but the county pharmacies won't fill them. You have to take them to an outside pharmacy and pay full price for them. And then I found out that I don't even need the script to get them at Walgreen's anyway. *rolls eyes* So I have to wonder why they wasted the time and energy. Needless to say, when the doc wanted me testing a minimum of 3 times a day, it was costly. Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 >Aazari, where do you live?> Houston ( county). >I was astounded I have so little trouble - but I APPEAR to have been put in the program at clinic where I'll get a free meter and strips for $5.> Apparently our county clinics don't offer them at all. I've called around. One office did ask my age before saying " Sorry, can't help you. " so they may provide them for older patients or those on Medicaid/Medicare. Since I'm in that awful in-between age zone where it's hard to get Human Services to do anything for you anyway (whether that be food stamps, work help, medical, whatever), I'm probably lucky they cover the allergy meds I need to keep breathing. :-p >>I also found out that it pays to shop around - we have a supermarket in the area that specializes in selling what alot of people buy for bottom prices - their prices for meters are half what Walgreen's are for the store meter and some other meters, and the strips about 2/3. >> I've found that I get them cheapest online. So long as I keep tabs on how many are left, I can get them here before or soon after I run out. Since it's not imperative that I test 3 times a day anymore, I can go a couple of days without and not have any trouble. I found in some cases I can get the strips on special for about half what Walgreen's, CVS or Wal-Mart wants for them. But still, that's money I don't have being unemployed. Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 That could be part of why he is having problems. Austin is an unusual island of liberalism in Texas, which notoriously offers poor social services. The clinic I go to is partly funded by my church - one of the oldest and wealthiest in Austin. In fact, St. 's founded the hospital that runs the clinic - though they no longer run it. I wonder if HEB stores are in Houston? THey are in Austin and San ; don't know how far they've spread. The meter I got at CVS for $18 is available for $9 there. And they have one of the good brand ones for $18. Pharmacist said only difference is that big memory. Yours, Dora Austin, Texas villandra@... Re: multiple tests Wonderful news, Dora! Actually, I hope you take any free meters offered because it would be wonderful to have a backup meter. See? Good things ARE happening! Our area has diabetes educators who are zealous in their desire to help. Sometime I hope to acquire a backup meter. Aazari lives in Texas also, Houston area I believe. Hugs, Becky Carver In diabetes , " Dora " <villandra@a...> wrote: ...I APPEAR to have been put in the program at clinic where I'll get a free meter and strips for $5... Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 To clarify... the clinics don't give you strips, lancets and other consumables related to testing. They DID give me a meter... and then sent me a bill for it. *smirk* Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 >>I wonder if HEB stores are in Houston? THey are in Austin and San ; don't know how far they've spread. The meter I got at CVS for $18 is available for $9 there. And they have one of the good brand ones for $18. Pharmacist said only difference is that big memory. >> I'm not sure how it is since Grocer's Supply bought them out, but the last HEB stores I visited here had NO diabetic supplies in them at all. Most didn't have pharmacies and only carried standard OTC drugs, nothing remotely special... not even dietary supplements beyond your typical one-a-day vitamins. Granted, the ones that have been local to me weren't their bigger stores, so that may make the difference. I've not looked at Kroger for anything since they tend to have higher proces than Wal-Mart and the pharmacies on most medical goods. Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 That's a good point. I have prediabetes and never thought I 'd get an order from the doctor for supplies, and I THINK the pharmacy carries them because I keep seeing people walking off with diabetes meters from the pharmacy window (they must treat more people for diabetes than for infections or asthma.) But after my doctor referred me to the nutritionist, she put me in the diabetes class - which she says means I'll get a " more reliable " meter and my strips for $5. So apparently that is the way or else one way you get diabetes supplies from this clinic and not through the pharmacy - unless she is sending people to the pharmacy to pick them up. So you might ask if you can be referred to a diabetes class or the nutritionist or something and then ask if they will give you the meter and strips. Yours, Dora Austin, Texas villandra@... Re: multiple tests Aazari, have you tried calling the diabetes educators who teach diabetes classes through some of your local hospitals? My teacher told me that companies give her lots of free meters and maybe this happens in your area also. Just a thought...wouldn't hurt to check politely. If there are extra meters just sitting in someone's office, maybe the teacher would help you out. Usually there is a starter kit with lancets and strips along with it. That's how it is at South Austin Hospital in Austin; I don't know how it is there. Hugs, Becky Carver -- In diabetes , " Aazari " <aazari@e...> wrote: ...our county clinics don't offer them... Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 What? Hadn't heard they'd been bought out - and all HEB's in Austin have pharmacies. All but one that I know of, anyhow. The structure of HEB is very confusing. Some of them have told me that groups of them and sometimes individual stores have separate ownership. It sounds like it wouldn't hurt you to get on the phone and call a few stores. (If you don't have a phone, Kinko's will let you make calls for free from their store.) And don't forget to ask your clinic how you'd qualify for the free meds program, and check for a diabetes class. Yours, Dora Austin, Texas villandra@... Re: multiple tests >>I wonder if HEB stores are in Houston? THey are in Austin and San ; don't know how far they've spread. The meter I got at CVS for $18 is available for $9 there. And they have one of the good brand ones for $18. Pharmacist said only difference is that big memory. >> I'm not sure how it is since Grocer's Supply bought them out, but the last HEB stores I visited here had NO diabetic supplies in them at all. Most didn't have pharmacies and only carried standard OTC drugs, nothing remotely special... not even dietary supplements beyond your typical one-a-day vitamins. Granted, the ones that have been local to me weren't their bigger stores, so that may make the difference. I've not looked at Kroger for anything since they tend to have higher proces than Wal-Mart and the pharmacies on most medical goods. Aazari The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette http://www.aazari.com/ Art Protection League http://www.artprotectionleague.org/ Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Curious -- did you pay the bill? Janie > To clarify... the clinics don't give you strips, lancets and other > consumables related to testing. They DID give me a meter... and then sent me > a bill for it. *smirk* > > Aazari > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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