Money, dinero, argent, I soldi, makes the world go ‘round. Also it is helps diabetics stay alive. I am going to get right at it; T1D is an exorbitantly expensive disease. Ok, where to start. These are out of pocket costs without insurance. Test strips, ok say you don’t have a CGM and you have to check 8-10 times a day, and that if your insurance will allow that many because many don’t, are around $60-75 per box of 50, yes that lasts 5 days. You can’t get less expensive test strips but they are just coming out with reliability reports on test strips. You pretty much get what you pay for with those. Remember as a T1D you need these to check your BG, which is entirely necessary. Insulin, short acting, is now $331 A BOTTLE, I use 2 ½ bottles a month, which means I buy 3 month. When I was diagnosed close to 15 years ago it was $50 a bottle.. it is the same insulin.. I can’t jump higher or run faster, it works just the same. This is the same price gouging that happened with the Epi Pen, the only difference it has been happening for YEARS and congress or anyone has yet to do shit about it. There is a class action suite that is has begun against the largest insulin producers, but that doesn’t solve the problem. Insulin is a more expensive drug to make, but a live saving drug should not be so expensive that people are dying because they can’t afford it. Yes, this is actually happening in a 1st world country. Insulin is over 100 years old… it is not new. There isn’t any generic insulin because the patent is still owned by the first companies. One of the patents was up last year but the company extended it. For a generic to be made the initial patent on the drug has to expire and then that enables other companies to create a similar drug. Although I do know someone that has worked in the field and they felt that a patent might not happen for a while if it was a possibility due to the cost and process of creating insulin. Wal-Mart claims they have a “generic” insulin but it really isn’t and it doesn’t work as well for a lot of T1D and also it does not work well in insulin pumps. So long lasting insulin usually is a bit more expensive than short acting, I don’t quite know the price because I don’t use it. Maybe another T1D can help me with that?
Pump supplies- I receive a box for a 3-month supply 4 times a year. In it are
Infusion sets- $760 for 3 months or $16 each
Reservoirs- $359 for 3 months or $7.80 each
Test strips- $659 for 3 months or $60 a box, if I buy the same box at Walgreens they are $75
IV prep pads- which are like alcohol pads with sticky stuff and essential for the infusion set to stick $11 for 45 pads.
Also please note they only give you the exact number you need so if your pump site pulls out, leaks, or has some sort of malfunction you are SOL and have to call the pump company and spend no less than 30 minutes on the phone to prove you are not an idiot and yes their equipment malfunctioned so they can send you 1 replacement… awesomeness! CGMs are very expensive. The transmitter, which you need is $800 and they are only warrantied for 6 months so you need 2 a year, and the receiver which is also necessary, is $500 and again you need 2 a year… although I use my much longer. Some sensors you can use a phone app as the receivers but it does not read as well because your phone isn’t always within transmitting distance. Now these prices are for Dexcom, which is what I have, but other sensors are pretty comparable because these companies are a bit competitive. The actual sensors are $2,250 for 3 months or $187.50 each, and now you know why we wear them for more than the approved 7 days. Yes, usually if you are wearing a CGM you are using less test strips but you still need test strips. So my box of supplies for 3 months, this includes my test strips, is $4,850.
Every year a T1D also has to buy a new Glucagon kit, these are glucose shots that can be used to revive you if your BG is so low you loose consciousness or if you are alone and you need it as a last resort to not pass out. These are $339.26 each. T1Ds also have to go to a specialist Dr. called an Endocrinologist every 3 months and these office visits are around $150 and now they are charging $75 to look at your CGM data, which is nicely printed out, to use it as a tool to make pump adjustments. This price includes checking your A1c, your 3 month average BG. And about every 6 months you may need labs too. So grand total for a year
Insulin- $11,932.80
Pump supplies including CGM sensors and test strips- $19,400
Sensor transmitter and receiver- $2,600
Glucagon kit- $339.26
Endo visits- $900
So the grand total if you were uninsured would be $35,172.06
This is a CONSERVATIVE estimate because I rounded the numbers down and it doesn’t include labs, lancets, glucose meters, alcohol pads, the food you need to treat your low BG, the food you need to eat so you can exercise, or potential hospitalizations. Also, if a T1D is just on shots they will be paying more for insulin because many use insulin pens, which cost more, the 2 different insulins, and they also have to buy syringes. OH, also insulin pumps cost around $7000 and you only get a new one every 4 years. BOOM.
If you are interested, here is a petition to bring down the price of insulin. make insulin affordable
I have pretty good insurance; I am self-insured and have to pay 20% co-pay so for instance insulin is $100 a month. Yes it is still a lot but not full price. I used to be under-insured and payed for prescriptions and Dr. visits out of pocket. Fortunately, my pump supplies were paid by a mandate we are very very lucky to have in MI, which is if you are underinsured your insurance has to pay for 100% of your diabetic supplies after you meet your deductible. The rule has changed a bit since the affordable care act. Every year I have to add up how much I pay out of pocket and for insurance and make sure I don’t need to change to a high deductible lower max-out, less coverage plan. Yes are assistance programs for insulin but they are becoming less and less and recently even my Endo office posted they will not longer be able to give out insulin samples due to stricter hospital regulations. T1Ds are all ages, from babies to seniors same costs across the board and Medicare is finally getting on the CGM boat, even though it has proven for better control and less diabetic complications if used properly and continuously. This is a disease we didn’t choose, that we need a drug to stay alive. Are you outraged yet? You should be, I am.
Needlestosay 