How a Type 2 Diabetic Saved $500 per month

In this age of expensive pharmaceuticals and high-deductible insurance, I was once again feeling the pain. I had just picked up my monthly supply of insulin. My share was $600 for 4 bottles of Humulin 70/30 insulin. The insurance was paying the rest.

After several months of paying this much I started thinking there had to be a better way. I recalled an incident where I had been prescribed a medication to get rid of toenail fungus. The pharmacy had wanted over $300. I was so shocked I had just said "no." I had gone home and gotten on the internet. I discovered that daily application of vinegar to the toenails accomplished the same thing. The cost was somewhere around $2.00. The other cost was a little of my time. I had to apply it every day and not miss a day. Not as convenient as a pill, but well worth the savings to me.

So here I was months later, (and toenail fungus free) getting on the internet for more research. I discovered an article that claimed you could buy the old-style insulin over the counter without a prescription at Walmart. The article claimed it was $25.00 a vial. Well, I was already giving myself a morning and evening shot with my specialty insulin. I figured I could handle the inconvenience of a shot with every meal the way they used to do it.

So I walked into Walmart and decided to test the article. I almost dropped my teeth when the pharmacist said "yes, what type of insulin do you want?" So I asked for Humulin 70/30. He told me they didn't have that brand, but they did have Novolin 70/30 which was esentially the same thing. It was $25.00. I felt numb as I paid my money and collected the insulin.

When I got home I called the doctor just to verify that the Novolin 70/30 was a good replacement for the Humulin. It was just a little good to be true, you see. However, my doctor said it would be fine. Here I was, all prepared to use the old style insulin, and I could instead continue with my same routine, only for $500 less!