Is the cost of insulin subsidised?

[Rockatansky]

As per the title, is the cost of insulin for human use subsidised in some way?

I ask as I have a cat which has diabetes as a secondary condition brought on by acromegaly. He is quite insulin resistant and we're getting through the stuff at some rate.

The insulin is hypurin bovine protamine zinc and is being charged to us at around £70 per vial. A quick search online finds that the very same stuff can be had at half the price for human use, hence my question.

Currently the insurance company is covering the costs but, depending on how long the cat lives, we'll hit the claim limit eventually and if I can lower the costs then I'd like to do so.

[silverthorn2151]

One of the plus points about diabetes is that one gets a medical exemption certificate so all prescriptions are free. I use Novomix 30 insulin amongst a bunch of other stuff and. Pen lasts 3 days. I have no ide whatsoever how much it costs, not the needles.

It have free Viagra too. The NHS allow one pill per week. These days I have built up a tidy stockpile and I'm waiting for one big fk for a weekend. If I can stay awake that long.

[throt]

Silver,,, there are no plus points for having diabetes. You check your sugars at least twice a day, it should be three really. Exercise will really help too with sugar levels..

[Rockatansky]

Thanks for the reply, even though it doesn't explain the cost differential I'm seeing.

It's good that your insulin is free, but I'm more glad that my cat doesn't get viagra.....

[Gareth79]

I'd imagine the vet would mark up the price substantially, probably even more if it's an insurance claim. I'd ask them directly how much it will cost when the insurance runs out, and whether it would be acceptable to supply your own insulin.

[Rockatansky]

I'm sure he'd be fine with me sourcing my own insulin but the price issue remains. I see vet supply places selling it for £60ish and yet pharmacies for closer to £30 and that's the root of my query.

I doubt a pharmacy would accept a prescription from a vet, but I don't actually know that.

[audikentman]

Rockatansky said:

I'm sure he'd be fine with me sourcing my own insulin but the price issue remains. I see vet supply places selling it for £60ish and yet pharmacies for closer to £30 and that's the root of my query.

I doubt a pharmacy would accept a prescription from a vet, but I don't actually know that.

Boots near me do for a certain type of flea drops for my cats, so I wouldn't have thought the insulin shouldn't be a problem.

[silverthorn2151]

throt said:

Silver,,, there are no plus points for having diabetes. You check your sugars at least twice a day, it should be three really. Exercise will really help too with sugar levels..

I was speaking ironically as I am very aware of the issues related to Diabetes. The current thinking though is that you don't test your blood that often.

And 3 is too low really if you use insulin.

[gus607]

Vets like to rip everyone off big time. Go online & you will amazed at the price difference, UK supplier too.

[Rockatansky]

I don't agree about the vet ripping me off. I have good reason to trust him, but that's not the point.

The whole origin of my question is that I have searched online and what I have found is a great disparity between the cost of the item to human users and to veterinary users.

If you, or anyone else, can point me to this being available for animal use at the human price I'd be very grateful.

[GreenDog]

audikentman said:

Rockatansky said:

I'm sure he'd be fine with me sourcing my own insulin but the price issue remains. I see vet supply places selling it for £60ish and yet pharmacies for closer to £30 and that's the root of my query.

I doubt a pharmacy would accept a prescription from a vet, but I don't actually know that.

Boots near me do for a certain type of flea drops for my cats, so I wouldn't have thought the insulin shouldn't be a problem.

The pharmacy in Asda near us fulfil pet prescriptions according to my wife.

[chris_c201]

Can't answer original question but did have a cat with diabetes for about 18 months so remember the trials and tribulations of trying to find right dosage and the twice daily injections... thankfully he was a lazy wee thing so wasn't much of a struggle!

We always just stuck with the vets for the insulin, think from memory there was 2 sizes of vials, 5ml and 10ml and it was about £25 and £40 from our vets so sounds like it was much cheaper (p.s, only about 1 year ago so not inflation related!)

We did however buy all the needles online, think a 10 pack from the vets (5 days worth) was about £5, a box of about 100 (exact same make etc) online was around £20.

Thankfully our pet insurance covered all but the excess, between the medication, regular fructosamine test adn then operations on a pretty serious cancerous growth he had it all got a bit messy and expensive in the end. Also had another cat who had a massive stroke around the same time so between the 2 we were up to 12 medications per day at one point.... not fun!