Retail prices for brand-name strips can exceed $100 for a box of 100 , whereas secondary market sellers may offer them for a fraction of that cost—sometimes as low as $36.
Beyond standard pharmacy purchases, a large "underground economy" exists for these strips. People buy them through online vendors, street advertisements, or peer-to-peer marketplaces for several specific reasons: why do people buy diabetic test strips
Individuals with high-deductible plans or those in the Medicare "donut hole" may find it cheaper to buy from resellers than to pay their out-of-pocket costs at a pharmacy. Retail prices for brand-name strips can exceed $100
For the millions of people living with diabetes, test strips are a daily necessity used with a glucose meter to get real-time data on how food, medication, and exercise affect their blood sugar. For the millions of people living with diabetes,
Some insurance plans strictly limit the number of strips a patient can receive per month. If a patient needs to test more frequently, they may buy extra strips through secondary channels. Why are there extra strips to buy? Surplus supplies enter this market when patients: The Murky World Of Secondhand Diabetic Test Strips - NPR
Real-time readings help patients and doctors make immediate decisions about insulin doses or medication changes.
Some patients must test their blood as often as 10 times a day to manage insulin-dependent diabetes.