Dear Roche Pharmaceuticals,
We, the undersigned, are contacting you to request that you expand your Patient Assistance Program so that people who live too far away from Direct Relief USA health clinics can receive the test strips they desperately need.
In the restructured program, instead of individuals applying for and receiving strips through the mail, they now must travel to one of only five clinics in each state, register as a patient there, and receive an allotment of test strips through the clinic. These strips are free, but hundreds of emails have communicated to us that the cost involved in becoming a patient in one of these five clinics can often exceed the cost of over-the-counter test strips.
A member wrote to us, "One manufacturer, Roche, who did offer assistance changed their program this year and only offers help through free outreach clinics. It sounds like a great idea, unless you happen live in an area without free clinics. We live in a rural area without any free clinics; since we live in a different county, we aren’t eligible for test strip assistance at those clinics within driving distance. (Also, they are 1+ hrs. away). But, my diabetes didn’t go away during this time… I still need to test.”
Please don't leave this life-threatening void unaddressed. It is all of our human rights' to have access to the medical supplies we need to live healthy lives. With or without insurance, we join together as the diabetes community to request an expansion to the Patient Assistant Program that will provide test strips for all of those in need.
Anonymous Signature,
I was just hospitalized with ketoacidosis, I have plenty of insulin for now through patience assistance program n our county. No asistance for test strips and cannot afford them nor have insurance. I have to test my sugars 3 times daily, find it impossible.
Shannon Cartee,
I would otherwise qualify, but there are no clinics in my state (New Mexico). We are one of the most poverty stricken states in the U.S. How can there be no assistance for citizens of such a poor state, from Roche?
mandy,
I work full time and have two children. After paying 00 a year for health insurance, they do not cover diabetic supplies. The middle class is the most disrespected class in this country. One should be a bum and sit home on Medicaid, choosing not to work. The other day, this lady waived her 1 medicaid co-pay for her prescription, because she had to pay 0 for her cigarettes. Meanwhile, I am paying for her prescription, it comes out of my taxpayer money! When do we get help? When do we, the people earning an honest living, get some relief???
Aleksandra Huey,
Anna Dunfey,
jennifer regan,
Anonymous Signature,
demetrie,
Mark Pearson,
Simply put. When do the people paying into the system receive their break? There should be incentive to remain healthy, thus lowering the costs of insurance, In order to be healthy we MUST know what our blood sugars are and we can't do that without test strips at this time.
Anonymous Signature,
Nina Brooks,
I lost my job and have no insurance. I need to test my blood sugar 5+ times a day. I can not afford test strips, although I can get then insulin through a program, I also have to pay for needles, but those are not as expensive and can use them more than once.
Anonymous Signature,
Please expand on this program however you can. I personally have seen just how in need many populations, especially those who do not qualify for medical insurance or who are going through hard transitions in their lives are in need of such programs to receive such diabetic monitoring supplies to keep them healthy.
Debbie Martir,
jody moore,
I have no insurance and umempoyed. I need your help
Your generosity will not be forgotten
Robert Kiehn,
Diabetic test strips can help prevent diabetics from
going into low blood sugar and high blood sugar levels.
It does save lives! Please help diabetics in need. Thanks.
GREG ROMERO,
JUST FOUND OUT MY INS. DOES NOT PAY FOR THE STRIPS AND THERE 40.00 + THE LANCETS ARE AN OTHER 40.00 THIS ADDS UP MONTHLY AND HAVE TO CHECK THREE TIMES DAILY NEED FREE STRIPS AND LANCETS I HAVE THE ONE TOUCH FOR FREE WHY NOT THE STRIPS AND LANCETS AS WELL PLEASE HELP TO BE FREE FROM THIS THANKS...FOR READING.
Anonymous Signature,
Test strips are just as vital as the medication diabetes requires.Without test strips, diabetes glucose levels cannot be managed or monitored accurately. Therefore, uncontrolled glucose levels do result into life threatening high and low glucose levels at anytime. Diabetes needs close management and this can only be done through the use of diabetic supplies....not guessing games or the abscence of the diabetic supplies. Without medical supplies & equipment diabetes can never be managed and it's complications give rise very quickly...resulting into disabilities and/or death. We diabetics never asked for this disease but we are asking for help to manage and control the diabetes when we truly need the help to stay alive and healthy.
Lawrence Merritt,
As a person with diabetes and no insurance coverage, my biggest concern is not being able to test my blood sugar because of the high cost of test strips. Anything that can be done to make these available to people without insurance SHOULD be done.
Anonymous Signature,
I need to test my blood sugar 6 times a day. I can not afford test strips.
A. Williams,
I work as a patient advocate, and see the results of the uninsured, underinsured, and just plain poverty-striken who cannot get their strips; it's devastating to their health. How can they manage diabetes without test strips? They can't. It's about time someone realized this and helped them.
Monica R. Torres,
Victor Reyes,
My story is exactly like "Anonymus Signature" so I just copied thier comment...I was just hospitalized with ketoacidosis, I have plenty of insulin for now through patience assistance program in our county. But there is no asistance for test strips and cannot afford them nor have insurance. I have to test my sugars 3 times daily & find it impossible to pay .00 or more for just 50 strips. I need help somehow to continue checking my sugar level somehow.