Quick answer: People buy resold diabetic test strips because retail prices are steep and many patients are uninsured or underinsured. The secondary market moves surplus, in-date supplies from people who don’t need them to people who can’t afford them at full price — legally, since strips are sold over the counter.
If you’ve ever wondered who actually buys used test strips — and why anyone would — the answer is a story about cost. Understanding it helps explain why your surplus boxes have value and where they end up.
Test strips are expensive
A 50-count box of name-brand strips can cost around $90 at the pharmacy counter before insurance, according to SingleCare. For someone testing several times a day, that adds up fast. All told, people with diabetes can spend up to roughly $4,000 a year on over-the-counter supplies even with coverage, GoodRx reports. With more than 38 million Americans living with diabetes per the CDC, that’s an enormous amount of strain on household budgets.
Who buys resold strips?
Typically, the buyers are people who:
- Are uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford retail prices
- Are between insurance plans or waiting on coverage approval
- Have hit coverage limits — Medicare Part B, for example, covers only up to 300 strips per three months for insulin users, and 100 for non-insulin users
For these folks, buying in-date strips on the secondary market at a fraction of retail can be the difference between testing as often as they should and rationing.
Where does the surplus come from?
From people like you. Boxes pile up after a plan change or new meter, a prescription adjustment, or a loved one’s passing. Those sealed, unexpired supplies are perfectly good — they’re just sitting unused. The resale market connects that surplus to demand.
Have surplus supplies? Put them to good use and get paid. Text 812-648-0149 or get a free quote.
Is this legal and ethical?
Yes on both counts. Reselling sealed, unexpired over-the-counter test strips is legal — see our legal guide. And ethically, it keeps usable supplies out of the landfill and into the hands of people who need them, while paying sellers fairly. If you’d rather give yours away, that’s a great option too — compare the paths in donate or sell.
The bottom line
The secondary market exists because supplies are expensive and surplus is common. When you sell your unused test strips, you get cash and someone who’s struggling gets affordable, in-date supplies. That’s a win on both ends.
Frequently asked questions
Who actually buys resold test strips?
Often people who are uninsured or underinsured and can’t afford retail prices, or who are between plans. The secondary market gets surplus supplies to people who need them.
Why is there surplus in the first place?
Plan changes, new meters, prescription adjustments, and the passing of a loved one all leave sealed, unused boxes behind.
Is buying and selling test strips ethical?
It keeps usable, in-date supplies out of the trash and into the hands of people who need them, while paying sellers fairly. Done with sealed, unexpired boxes, it helps both sides.