Key takeaways:
You may be able to get a free blood glucose (blood sugar) meter from certain manufacturers. Typically, you’ll need to fill out a form online. Then, you’ll receive an emailed voucher or coupon to present at your pharmacy.
You may be able to get a manufacturer voucher for a free Accu-Chek Guide Me or Contour Next Gen meter. Your prescriber may be able to help you get a OneTouch meter for as little as $10.
GoodRx can help you save on many glucose meters, as well as test strips and lancets. Discuss these savings opportunities with your pharmacist.
Save on related medications
Were you recently diagnosed with diabetes? Or maybe you’ve had diabetes for years and are in need of a blood glucose (blood sugar) meter upgrade? Many manufacturers offer low-cost or even free glucose meters (glucometers). Many of them also offer discounts or assistance programs that can help you save on other testing equipment, such as lancets and test strips.
What is a blood glucose meter?
A blood glucose meter is a small device you can use to measure the amount of sugar in your blood. First, you’ll use a lancet to pierce the skin on your finger and get a sample of blood. Then, you’ll place a drop of blood on a test strip so it can be analyzed within seconds.
Keep in mind that a blood glucose meter will only give you a picture of your sugar levels at the moment you use it. It’s recommended to keep a log of your readings to help you watch for trends.
Many blood glucose meters come with a logbook in the box to help you get started. And the American Diabetes Association provides a free printable log on their website. But you can use any notebook to keep track of your readings.
Good to know: If you’re looking for a device that provides readings throughout the day, consider a continuous glucose monitor. If you’re curious how your blood sugar levels have changed over time, your healthcare team can have you go for a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c or A1C) test. This test gives an estimate of your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
Tips for finding low-cost or free glucose meters and diabetes test kits
Listed below are popular manufacturers of diabetes supplies and what products they offer for free or at a low cost.
There’s also information about how you can save on products with GoodRx coupons. The glucometers and testing supplies discussed below can be purchased over the counter. But keep in mind that you’ll need a valid prescription for an item in order to be able to apply a GoodRx discount.
Good to know: Always check that the test strips you’re buying are compatible with your specific glucose meter. Test strips aren’t interchangeable and typically only work for certain models of glucometers. So for example, you can’t use OneTouch Verio test strips with a OneTouch Ultra 2 meter, even though they’re made by the same manufacturer.
OneTouch
OneTouch doesn’t currently offer a free glucose meter. But your prescriber may be able to download a meter voucher that could lower your copay to as little as $10. Ask your prescriber if they’re able to access this discount for you.
You can also use a GoodRx coupon to help lower the cost of a OneTouch meter. Here’s how much you might pay for different OneTouch blood glucose meters with a GoodRx discount:
OneTouch UltraMini: as low as $20.58
OneTouch Ultra 2: as low as $29.88
OneTouch Verio: as low as $29.88
OneTouch Verio Flex: as low as $28.01
OneTouch Verio IQ: as low as $39.41
OneTouch test strip savings
You can also use GoodRx coupons to help lower the cost of OneTouch test strips. Anyone, regardless of their insurance status, can get a box of 100 OneTouch Ultra test strips at an exclusive cash price of $70, or 100 OneTouch Verio test strips at an exclusive cash price of $60.
The manufacturer also offers discounts for test strips to insured consumers who don’t have coverage for OneTouch products. If you qualify, you could get a box of 100 strips for $45 through the OneTouch Prescription Discount Program. Or you could get a box of OneTouch Verio test strips for $35.
Participating pharmacies can apply the discount for you while processing your prescription. You cannot use this discount if you’re uninsured or have government-funded insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid. For questions about the manufacturer discount program, call 1-800-227-8862.
OneTouch lancet savings
GoodRx can also help you save on OneTouch lancets. Here’s what you could pay for different types of lancets with a free GoodRx coupon:
Accu-Chek
You can get a free Accu-Chek Guide Me meter voucher from the manufacturer. Just complete the enrollment form online, and they will email you details regarding whether you qualify and how to redeem the voucher.
You can also use a GoodRx coupon to help you save on an Accu-Chek meter. With a free GoodRx coupon, here’s what you could pay for different Accu-Chek models:
Accu-Chek test strip savings
You can also save on Accu-Chek test strips with GoodRx coupons. With a GoodRx coupon, here’s what you could pay for different test strips:
Accu-Chek Aviva Plus: as low as $168.08 for a box of 100 test strips
Accu-Chek Guide: as low as $49.42 for a box of 100 test strips
Accu-Chek SmartView: as low as $168.08 for a box of 100 test strips
Accu-Chek lancet savings
GoodRx can also help you save on Accu-Chek lancets. With a GoodRx coupon, here’s what you could pay for different types:
FreeStyle
FreeStyle no longer offers free blood glucose meters. But GoodRx can help you save on FreeStyle models.
With a free GoodRx coupon, here’s what you could pay for different FreeStyle glucose meters:
FreeStyle Freedom Lite: as low as $20.65
FreeStyle Lite: as low as $21.58
FreeStyle Precision Xtra: as low as $21.58
FreeStyle test strip savings
You can also save on FreeStyle test strips using a free GoodRx coupon. Here’s what you could pay:
FreeStyle InsuLinx: as low as $161.88 for a box of 100 test strips
FreeStyle Lite: as low as $153.04 for a box of 100 test strips
FreeStyle Original: as low as $154.22 for a box of 100 test strips
FreeStyle Precision Neo: as low as $42.34 for a box of 100 test strips
FreeStyle Precision Xtra: as low as $24.66 for a box of 100 test strips
FreeStyle lancet savings
You can save on FreeStyle 28G lancets with a GoodRx coupon, too. With a GoodRx discount, you may pay as low as $12.95 for a box of 100 lancets at certain pharmacies.
Contour Next
You can get a coupon for a free Contour Next Gen blood glucose meter from the manufacturer. To be eligible to use the coupon, you must:
Have commercial insurance
Not have government-funded insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare
Have a valid prescription for a Contour Next Gen meter
Have already purchased at least 50 Contour Next test strips from the pharmacy that will be processing the free meter coupon
After filling out an online form for the free glucose meter, you’ll receive an email with the coupon. Bring this coupon to your pharmacy for them to process it. If you have questions about the program, call 1-800-348-8100.
You can also save on a Contour Next glucose meter through GoodRx. With a free GoodRx coupon, you may pay as low as $21.58 at certain pharmacies.
Contour Next test strip savings
GoodRx can help you save on the price of Contour Next test strips. At certain pharmacies, you may pay as low as $120.19 for a box of 100 test strips with a GoodRx coupon.
Microlet lancet savings
Microlet is the brand of lancets that are compatible with Contour testing kits. With a GoodRx coupon, you may pay as low as $14.69 for a box of 100 Microlet lancets at certain pharmacies.
Frequently asked questions
There’s limited information on which blood glucose meter is the most accurate. But available studies suggest that meter accuracy varies widely. One study found that the Contour Next meter was the most accurate. But this study was conducted on laboratory samples, not on humans providing blood samples. So it’s hard to say whether Contour Next is truly more accurate than other glucose meters.
Yes, you can buy glucose meters over the counter at most retail pharmacies, such as Walmart and CVS locations. You don’t need a prescription to purchase glucose meters, test strips, or lancets. But it may be cheaper to purchase them this way.
If you have insurance, your coverage may lower the cost of diabetes testing supplies. You can also apply discounts, such as GoodRx coupons, when you fill prescriptions for these supplies.
You may be able to get an Accu-Chek Guide Me or a Contour Next Gen meter for free through the manufacturer. And your prescriber may be able to help you get a OneTouch glucose meter for as little as $10.
GoodRx may be able to help you access the following meters at a reduced price:
Medicare doesn’t usually cover the full cost of glucose meters. After you meet your Medicare Part B deductible, you’re typically responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a meter.
There’s limited information on which blood glucose meter is the most accurate. But available studies suggest that meter accuracy varies widely. One study found that the Contour Next meter was the most accurate. But this study was conducted on laboratory samples, not on humans providing blood samples. So it’s hard to say whether Contour Next is truly more accurate than other glucose meters.
Yes, you can buy glucose meters over the counter at most retail pharmacies, such as Walmart and CVS locations. You don’t need a prescription to purchase glucose meters, test strips, or lancets. But it may be cheaper to purchase them this way.
If you have insurance, your coverage may lower the cost of diabetes testing supplies. You can also apply discounts, such as GoodRx coupons, when you fill prescriptions for these supplies.
You may be able to get an Accu-Chek Guide Me or a Contour Next Gen meter for free through the manufacturer. And your prescriber may be able to help you get a OneTouch glucose meter for as little as $10.
GoodRx may be able to help you access the following meters at a reduced price:
Accu-Chek Guide: as low as $
FreeStyle Freedom Lite: as low as $
FreeStyle Lite: as low as $
FreeStyle Precision Xtra: as low as $
Medicare doesn’t usually cover the full cost of glucose meters. After you meet your Medicare Part B deductible, you’re typically responsible for 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for a meter.
The bottom line
There are a few ways to get a free blood glucose (blood sugar) meter. They usually require you to sign up for a voucher or coupon through the device’s manufacturer. Accu-Chek and Contour Next currently offer free glucose meters. And your prescriber may be able to help you get a OneTouch meter for as little as $10.
GoodRx can help you save on many other glucose meters, as well as test strips and lancets. Discuss how you could save on your diabetes testing supplies with your prescriber or pharmacist.
Why trust our experts?
References
Accu-Chek. (n.d.). Get a free Accu-Chek meter! Roche Diabetes Care.
American Diabetes Association. (2023). Blood glucose log.
Contour. (n.d.). Receive a free Contour Next Gen blood glucose meter. Ascensia Diabetes Care.
Ekhlaspour, L., et al. (2016). Comparative accuracy of 17 point-of-care glucose meters. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.
Klonoff, D. C., et al. (2018). Investigation of the accuracy of 18 marketed blood glucose monitors. Diabetes Care.
OneTouch. (n.d.). Deals and discounts: Helping your patients access supplies. LifeScan Enterprises.
OneTouch. (n.d.). Find OneTouch products near you. LifeScan Enterprises.
