What to Do With Diabetic Supplies After an Insurance Change

Insurance changes are one of the most common reasons people end up with boxes of diabetic supplies they can't use. Whether you switched employers, went on Medicare, or changed plans during open enrollment — here's what to know about your options.

The Most Common Scenarios

Switched to a New Plan That Covers Different Supplies

Your old plan covered OneTouch strips. Your new plan covers Freestyle Libre. You have 8 boxes of OneTouch strips you can't use anymore. This is straightforward — if those strips were purchased through private insurance (not Medicare), you can sell them.

Switched FROM Private Insurance TO Medicare

If you recently turned 65 and moved to Medicare, pay attention: any supplies purchased BEFORE you went on Medicare (i.e., paid through your old private insurance) are legally sellable. Supplies purchased AFTER you enrolled in Medicare Part B are not sellable.

Upgraded CGM (e.g., G6 → G7, or Libre 2 → Libre 3)

Your doctor upgraded your prescription. Your old device supplies are now sitting unused. As long as they weren't purchased through Medicare, sell them — this is exactly the situation StripValue handles most often.

How to Know If Your Supplies Are Sellable

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Were these supplies purchased through Medicare or Medicaid? → If yes, cannot sell.
2. Were these supplies purchased through private insurance (employer plan, marketplace, etc.)? → If yes, can sell.
3. Did you pay out of pocket? → Can sell.
4. Are they sealed and not expired? → Can sell.

What About Supplies Purchased Partly Under Medicare?

If Medicare paid any portion of the supplies (even as secondary insurance), those supplies are not sellable. The rule is clear: any Medicare-covered supply cannot be resold.