New, Free Service Shows Lowest Copays for Diabetes Test Supplies

Helps patients and health care professionals navigate complex insurance plans

By The LifeMinute Team

July 11, 2016

With the healthcare landscape becoming increasingly complex, understanding your coverage and what you'll pay for services, prescriptions and supplies is important, particularly when managing a chronic condition like diabetes.

"It's important for people with diabetes to regularly test their blood sugar and working with their healthcare professional use the results to help make decisions about food, activity and medication to stay healthy," says Jim Miller, consumer advocate and nationally-syndicated columnist.

Unfortunately, Miller says many people don't check their blood sugar as often as they should and one common barrier is the cost of testing supplies.

"So there are a few things I recommend to help make the most of your healthcare coverage," says Miller, "One is a new, free service from LifeScan, the makers of OneTouch Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems, called KnowMyCopay. It's a website and toll free phone service that shows patients and their healthcare providers the lowest co-pay across major brands of diabetes test strips based on each person's individual health plan."

So how does this program work?

"KnowMyCopay provides two levels of information based on the data provided by the user. In the first level, people can find out which products are "preferred" by their health plan by simply providing the type of coverage and the plan name," he says.

In the second level, by providing more specific information, patients and their healthcare professionals can review the actual copay amounts for the top five brands of test strips offered.

KnowMyCopay is a valuable, free service that can assist people in maximizing their healthcare coverage by comparing the out of pocket costs of the various diabetes test strips available in order to make an educated decision about the products they use.

To access this service visit KnowMyCopay.com or call toll free 1-844-807-8936 Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 8 PM Eastern.

Other helpful advice for diabetes patients?

Miller says, "For all prescriptions and supplies, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there's a generic or lower cost brand name alternative. You can often save between 20% and 90% by switching."

What else he says? Buy in bulk!

"Many pharmacies give discounts if you buy a three-month supply at once instead of the usual 30-day supply. Many pills can also be split," he says, "If your doctor tells you that yours can be, ask for a prescription that doubles the dosage of your pills so that you can split them and get two months worth of medicine for the price of one."

He also recommends shopping around, "Most people don't realize that drug prices can vary widely from drugstore to drugstore. Also, ask if your pharmacy offers a discount drug program that may be a less expensive alternative to your insurance plan's drug costs."

Finally, Miller says the best way to save on diabetes healthcare costs is to improve your health with these four basic steps. Lose weight, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and, if you smoke... stop!