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Have you ever run out of insulin and had issues getting more because of insurance? Share in the comments what you did.
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I paid out of pocket to get the insulin.
I once was out of town – dropped and broke my insulin vial. Went to pharmacy and had to pay retail. Then found the silicone vial protector online – what a blessing that has been.
I am going to look that up. Thanks.
My original prescription was one vial a month, and I always was afraid of running out. Now it’s two vials, and I have insulin to spare because I only use about 1.5. I keep the vials in the refrigerator all the time so I don’t have to worry about the 28 day limit.
Good for you. I don’t understand why absolutely everyone doesn’t do this!
I was in another state and my insulin was put into the freezer by mistake. I ended up in the hospital – the only time I’ve been in hospital due to my diabetes – for the entire day, waiting for the doctor in that state to order the insulin…then my insurance declined the order because it was “too early”. Literally begged the insurance person at the company who got managerial permission to allow one vial to cover the rest of my trip. This was prior to being able to pay $35.00 over the counter.
Never ran out, but had issues with insurance. For example, they covered insulin pens, but I had to pay out of pocket for the needles and test strips.
I’ve not had issues with insurance, but doctors have been a huge issue. I’ve had doctors who would not write me new Rx until I came to see them regardless of the fact that I still have diabetes and need insulin.
At one time my brother and niece were using Novolog, too, and we would loan to each other; then their insurance made them start using Humalog and I couldn’t loan from them due to my allergy to Humalog. So when I saw I was getting close to running out out I began rationing it.
One time, somehow, an insurance payment was 10 cents short..they never told us. One day I went to pick up my insulin and they wanted like $600 for it and I was like uhhh no? So I called my insurance right then and there and they said our payment was past due for 6 months so they shut our coverage off. She said we were behind 10 cents. 10 measly pennies. It was a Friday and I didn’t have enough insulin to get me through the weekend. The callous lady was all “you can pay it, and then we’ll reinstate your coverage in 3-5 business days after we receive it” and I said to her..”it’s Friday, so it won’t go through till Monday, then 3-5 days after that?? I’m going to die by then. I will drive to your office and hand you the ten cent piece right now if you just let me get my insulin now. Wouldn’t you rather me be alive and paying you for years than me dying and you never getting money from me again?!” She didn’t care. Thankfully the pharmacist….chemist? Is that what you call them there? lol was kind and lent me some insulin from my prescription from when it was caught up. I couldn’t believe that ten cents was worth more to that insurance company than my *life*.
Thankfully, no. Our son was diagnosed at 18 mos of age. His Endo encouraged us to use a vial beyond 28 days as he was using less than ten units per day. She also wrote the script to allow for an extra vial in case of breakage. Our son now uses about 25 units per day, but we have somewhat of a stockpile built up.
My original endo used to leave town and not tell his patients. Helped him communicate better by finding the mass text function on his software. But it did result in several of us running low and out in some cases. Not sure he still uses it as I’m on with a new Endo.
Had to change the brand of insulin that the insurance company approved of
Purchased Novolin-R (no prescription needed) and filled my pump with it.
Because I use one and one half vials a month I keep lots of backup insulin. I’m not sure what I would do if I ran out.
Yes.
I was at a time when I had to order more through a mail order pharmacy. So I ordered there. But, the insulin didn’t show up soon enough even though I paid the extra “expedite” fee.
So, my doctor gave me a physical Rx and I went to a pharmacy but they wouldn’t give me more and said that the system showed that I had enough already.
No matter how hard I tried to explain that I _didn’t_ have any, they wouldn’t accept it.
So, I had to call my doctor (and, I think it was after hours and/or on a Saturday) and he gave me an Rx for a different type of insulin, which did the trick.
I was panicking hard for awhile there, though!
It was about another week before the mail order stuff showed up.
I accidentally forgot an extra bottle of insulin when I went on a vacation. I paid out of pocket at a pharmacy while on the vacation so I didn’t use my insurance. However, when I got home, I was able to be reimbursed for the purchase by my insurance. So my answer was “no”.
I just waited an extra day before getting a new supply. My sugars were a little high.
Absolutely, yes. Pen went bad (insulin became wonky), vials have broken many times. The WORST is when you call to get a literal emergency refill from your medical doctor, but they REFUSE until you have a MANDATORY in person appointment, but cannot get you on the schedule for weeks/months. NOT EXCUSABLE.
When I had KP insurance, I would run out all the time. the worst was when I was fooled to had KP send my insulin by mail order and it was sent in a bag during 100 degree weather. Couldn’t get it replaced to during Open Enrollment I changed insurance.
When switching to Medicare I ran out of FIASP and they wouldn’t approve my script due to insurance issues. It was a battle and very stressful.