*** Diabetes Alert Day *** OneTouch(R) Offers Cost Saving Tips to Help Diabetes Patients...

*** Diabetes Alert Day *** OneTouch(R) Offers Cost Saving Tips to Help
Diabetes Patients Maintain Good Health in Tough Economy

MILPITAS, Calif., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new Harris
Interactive/HealthDay poll, the majority of U.S. adults are worried about
being able to afford medical care and prescription medications.(1) In
addition, a recent study reveals that one in seven children and working-age
Americans went without needed prescription medications in 2007 due to cost
concerns, up from one in 10 in 2003. Experts predict these statistics are
likely to get worse in 2009, and this could present even greater hardships for
those Americans with chronic conditions, such as diabetes.(2)

"People with diabetes are especially challenged because their healthcare costs
are twice as high as those of people without diabetes," said Dr. Alan Cariski,
Vice President of Worldwide Medical Safety and External Affairs at LifeScan,
maker of OneTouch(R) Brand Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems. "While it may be
tempting to cut back on healthcare spending by skipping medications or
reducing blood glucose testing, we're working to remind people how important
it is to follow the diabetes care regimen recommended by their healthcare
professional to help safeguard their health."

To help people with diabetes get the most value for their healthcare dollar,
OneTouch has teamed with consumer advocate and syndicated columnist, Jim
Miller.

"In a time when we're all cutting back, it's getting harder and harder to find
significant savings from just one area," said Miller, who is also a frequent
contributor to NBC's 'Today' show. "The key is to take advantage of as many
opportunities as possible which can add up to big savings over the course of a
year."

Miller and OneTouch offer the following tips, which include ways to reduce
co-pays and find savings through employers and lifestyle modifications - all
of which can help you maintain your physical and financial health.

If You Have Health Insurance:
-- Talk to your pharmacist or insurance company to make sure you're
getting your prescriptions and testing supplies at the lowest co-pay.
If not, talk to your physician about switching your prescriptions to
the
products with the lowest co-pays covered by your plan. For example,
OneTouch(R) Brand Test Strips are available at the lowest co-pay on
more
health plans than any other test strip. This means you could reduce
co-pay costs by 45% for an average savings of $250 a year.
-- Buy prescriptions in quantity. For example, a three-month
prescription
may save you on dispensing fees, which can make it less expensive than
buying it month to month.

If You Have Inadequate Or No Insurance:
-- There are many free or low-cost programs, including individual
pharmacy
plans, that offer assistance with getting prescriptions or supplies
for
those who qualify. Good resources for researching these programs
include: www.TogetherRxAccess.com; www.Access2wellness.com;
www.pparx.org; www.rxassist.org; and www.needymeds.org.
-- Look into free or low-cost health clinics:
-- Federally funded by the Health Resources and Services
Administration
(HRSA), there are thousands of health centers around the U.S. that
provide low-cost healthcare to people based on financial need
(www.findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov).
-- Hill-Burton facilities: There are around 200 Hill-Burton
healthcare
facilities around the country that offer free or reduced-cost
healthcare to those who can't afford to pay
(www.hrsa.gov/hillburton).
-- Privately funded, non-profit, community-based clinics: These
typically provide care for common illnesses and injuries to those
in
need, at little or no cost (www.freemedicalcamps.com).
-- Visit www.freehealthscreenings.org for information to help you keep
up
with regular, routine health screenings. In the long run,
preventative
care will always be your best healthcare investment.

What To Do At Work:
-- If your company offers a flexible spending account, use it. It
reduces
your taxes by letting you pay for your out-of-pocket medical expenses,
and over-the-counter products, with pre-tax dollars.
-- Find out if your employer health plan offers any special programs for
individuals with chronic conditions that may provide certain needed
prescriptions and products for free. For instance, United
Healthcare(R)
has recently launched a diabetes plan with incentives for prevention

(http://www.uhc.com/news_room/2009_news_release_archive/unitedhealthcare
_launches_diabetes_plan_with_incentives_for_preventive_care.htm).

What To Do On Your Own:
-- Some basics: If you are overweight, lose it; if you smoke, quit; if
you
don't exercise, start; and if you drink, do so in moderation.
Keeping healthy habits like these helps keep you healthy and save
money
in the long run.
-- Plan healthy meals with free tools such as the American Diabetes
Association's MyFoodAdvisor (TM) (www.diabetes.org/myfoodadvisor)
and LifeScan's www.OneTouchGold.com.

LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company and a leading maker of blood glucose
monitoring systems in the U.S., is dedicated to creating a world without
limits for people with diabetes. For healthcare professional resources, and
information on diabetes care and LifeScan products and services, visit
www.LifeScan.com.

(1) Harris Interactive/HealthDay Poll, March 9, 2009
(2) Center for Studying Health System Change

SOURCE LifeScan, Inc.

Helen Patrikis or Lara Markenson, Robert Marston Marketing Communications,
Inc., +1-212-371-2200, for LifeScan, Inc.