Harvest Right Freeze Dryer Cost

Every Harvest Right Freeze Dryer™, according to the company’s official website, has been engineered and hand assembled with care at its manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah.  The company spent nearly four years designing and engineering a product to help your family prepare in the case of any disaster.

Its patented technology will preserve the taste, nutrition and texture of nearly any food, making it a perfect option for meats, meals, desserts, fruits, vegetables and so much more.

Noted as the world’s best and most affordable freeze dryer, the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer™ allows your food to last up to 25 years, making it perfect for home storage.

“freeze dried strawberries and bananas” (CC BY 2.0) by Jo Naylor

How much does a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer™ cost?

The cost of a Harvest Right Freeze Dryer™ will depend on a few factors, including the size, where you purchase it and the condition.  With a few options available, we broke down the specs and the pricing in the table below for the residential units as found on the company’s official store:

If you do decide to purchase from the official website, depending on the time of the promotion, it appears they will offer a few free items, including an impulse sealer, oxygen absorbers and some mylar bags to help get you started with the process; however, this can vary as it could have been a promotional period at the time of researching the costs.   A promotional code could also be available at the time of the purchase as well so be sure to search for one to see if you can save even more.

The extra costs to consider

Mylar bags work best in this type of freezer and can cost about $0.50 to $1 each, often sold in 20 packs or more, but the price will depend on the size, quantity purchased and where you purchase the bag.  Commonly used for long-term storage of dried and dehydrated foods, the metalized barrier will help protect the food on the inside from the moisture, light and oxygen and are known for its good puncture resistant, low costs and oxygen barrier.  Aside from mylar bags, you can also choose cans as a storage choice, which will require the cans itself, the metal/plastic lids and a machine to seal the lid to the can.

Oxygen absorbers, often the same cost of the mylar bags, sometimes even less, will be used when storing foods to help absorb oxygen and carbon dioxide to help prevent mold, microbial growth, discoloration and against insects.  It can also help preserve the taste, flavor and nutrition of the foods being preserved.

Stainless steel freeze dryer trays, which are recommended for use while using, can cost up to $80 to $125+ for a set of three, depending on the size via the official retailer, but it can be found for as little as $15 each on Amazon.com.

An impulse heat sealer machine, designed to seal the bags closed before freezing can cost anywhere from $20 to more than $75+, all depending upon the brand, size and where you purchase from.

According to the company, it will cost about $1 to $3 per day to run the machine, depending on your electricity rates and where you live.

While it’s not really noted on the official website, Simply Family Preparedness notes that you should be prepared to change the oil every five to six cycles, with a power flush recommended after the 12th cycle.  After 30 to 36 cycles, you then need to consider completely removing the cover and cleaning the pump.  All in all, this can all cost an average of $1 per cycle.

How does it work?

The Harvest Right Freeze Dryer™ has a very simple four-step process, as per the official “how it works” page.

The first step involves placing either your fresh or cooked foods into the dryer, where they are then frozen to -40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler.

Once frozen, the freeze dryer then creates a powerful vacuum around the food, slightly warming it thereafter, allowing the ice to transition into a vapor to eventually evaporate.

Next, the freeze-dried food is then sealed into a moisture and oxygen-proof packing, along with the oxygen absorber, to ensure the food stays fresh until opened.

As the last step, when you’re ready to consume the freeze dried food, all you need to do is add water and the food regains its original fresh flavor and appearance.

What people loved about it

Almost all of the nutrients can be preserved while being freeze-dried, making it a great choice in comparison to canning and dehydration due to the lower temperatures involved.

In comparison to canning and dehydrating, the food, as long a freeze-dried properly, can last more than 20+ years, making it a great way to store your food for the future.

Many of the reviewers online gloated about how great the food tasted after using in the future.

The company seems to be very professional and willing to help customers with almost any question they have.

No sugar, salt or other related preservatives do not need to be added in order to freeze dry, making it a much healthier alternative to canning, etc.

What people didn’t like about it

Some of the bloggers we found online didn’t like the size as the typical weight can be a pinch over 100 pounds, meaning you cannot simply place it on your kitchen counters; rather, you will need a separate room or designated area to store it.

Many claimed its quite noisy, often louder than a dishwasher but much quieter than a power tool.   The loudest part, often being the drying cycle and when the vacuum pump is running, can be weeded out, however, if you were to store it away from your active rooms within the home.

It can take up to 40 hours to freeze dry a batch, but on the plus size, you do not have to sit there and watch your foods 100 percent of the time.

For some, it can take a while to learn the machine, especially when taking it out of the box as it can be intimidating with both the freeze-drying process and maintenance required in the future.  However, as with anything in life, you can find the sweet spot with the machine as you use it over time and follow the documentations both online and via the guide.

The costs could be a turn off for some as many feel it could take years of freeze-drying to break even on the investment.

Some did not like the short warranty in comparison to other appliance companies.

Tips to know

All units mentioned above, with the exception of the larger size, will use a 110-volt power source, but Common Sense Home states you should put it on its own circuit if at all possible.  The larger size will use a NEMA 5-20 110-volt power source, with a picture of it seen here.

All units will come with a one-year limited warranty.

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Air Scrubber Plus Cost

The Air Scrubber Plus®, manufactured by ActivTek Environmental, is a device that was designed to help improve your indoor air quality.  It will ensure you that your air ducts, furniture, bathrooms, doorknobs and practically every surface you can touch will be much safer and cleaner for your household.

Designed to be installed on an existing HVAC system, its sole intention is to be used as a whole-home air purification system, and once installed, it can go to work right away using the power of nature outside to clean the inside of your home.

“Furnace” (CC BY 2.0) by anneheathen

How much does the Air Scrubber Plus® cost?

As of now, the Air Scrubber Plus® can only be purchased by a licensed HVAC professional, and because of this, you’re going to find that the prices are limited online because the company of the Air Scrubber Plus® strictly prohibits HVAC contractors from posting the pricing online.  Due to this strict policy, you will find contractors will not post their prices online; rather, they will want you to call them directly.  However, it doesn’t mean we were not able to find prices.

According to some of the reports online, the costs of the entire system, when hiring a professional, tend to be in the $1,000 to $1,600 range, but this price will entirely be dependent upon the size of your home, the contractor you hire and your geographical region.  As mentioned below, the average unit can cover up to 2,000 square feet.

While most jobs are quite straightforward, it doesn’t hurt to receive multiple quotes from local HVAC contractors in your area by using HomeAdvisor.com.  With this website, you simply explain your job and with this, you will receive free quotes within a matter of hours in some cases.  It’s free to use and no credit card is required.

On this Reddit.com thread, for example, one member was quoted $1,000, while another contractor who replied said they often go for $1,400 to $1,500 in the expensive parts of New York.

How does it work?

The device uses the circulated air that’s generated by your home’s HVAC system and will pass it through the system cells, known as ActivePure, which are designed to produce molecules that are able to kill pathogens in the air and on nearby surfaces.  According to the company, the technology the device uses was initially featured via NASA since astronauts needed technology to help them grow fruits and vegetables while in space.  To prevent the plants from aging, a device was needed to help control the ethylene gas, which is naturally emitted from plants during the ripening process, and inside of the enclosure, ethylene can induce decay.  Because of this, a device was created to pull air through titanium dioxide coated tubes surrounded by UV lights, and when the gaseous air was able to pass through the system, it was then converted into specks of water and carbon dioxide.  In doing so, it was also found that, during this process, it could also kill pathogens as well, bringing the device to where it is today.

The unit will reach maximum efficiency within four days and when operating, it can cover up to 2,000 square feet.

Pros of the Air Scrubber Plus®

Using the device has been shown to not only improve the indoor quality but is often noted as a better alternative than a standard air scrubber with pleated filters.

It can reduce allergy symptoms.  For instance, a professional via EvergreenHomeHeatingandEnergy.com notes he, without a doubt, experienced fewer allergies, including his children.  The company also claims this, stating the device can actively cleanse the air and surfaces throughout the up, with a 90 percent or more reduction of all airborne micro-organisms.

Aside from reducing airborne micro-organisms, it can eliminate odors, remove volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) from indoor air and most will see a large reduction of dust and particles inside of the home.

In addition to making you feel better inside your home, it can also extend the life of your HVAC system as the indoor contaminants get broken up inside of the unit when the scrubbers are in action.

Cons of the Air Scrubber Plus®

R and R Refrigeration noted a few cons his customers have seen over the years, including the UV light bulb inside of the unit, which often needs to be replaced every two years, which means you will have to call a contractor every few years for a service call.  While the call can be inexpensive to some, many see it as a pure inconvenience.

Another common complaint, also noted by the company, was the dust reduction success.  While many customers of the device said their allergies greatly reduced, they still saw a good amount of dust around the home.

The device is only deemed to be effective when your HVAC system is running, meaning when your system shuts off, the device will as well unless you keep your fan running continuously in order to pus the air through the device.

Tips to know

The company notes they have over 1,500 pages of testing, with a cost of more than $1 million to complete.  This included university lab tests which survived the peer review process, simply meaning the scientific community agreed with the results before published.

According to the official FAQ, the device uses 19 watts of electricity, less than one-third of a standard 60-watt light bulb.

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How Much Does Aeroseal Cost?

Aeroseal duct sealing is said to be an efficient aerosol spray which is injected under pressure into the ducts, effectively sealing every crack and crevice from the inside, automatically fast drying the aerosol into the cracks, where it will eventually dry, quickly becoming a solid.  According to Howard Air, this method is said to be superior to hand brushing the sealant on the outside.

A duct sealing process developed and patented by the U.S. Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Agency, it was designed to combat wasted energy and poor indoor air quality often caused by leaky ducts.

With no attic work required, the job is monitored by a computer program that is able to determine when the pressure of the ductwork is low enough and most of the leakage has been sealed.

How much does Aeroseal duct sealing cost?

The costs of Aeroseal, like duct sealing in general, will depend on a variety of factors, including the size of your home, the contractor you choose, your geographical location and the age of your duct system, and from the research we did online, quotes seemed to be about $1,300 to $2,300 per average-sized home smaller than 2,300 square feet, making it close to four times the amount of sealing the ductwork by hand, according to HomeEnergyPros.org.  For some, depending on the geographical region, rebates may be available, essentially dropping the costs.

Before committing to the job, however, contractors do note a pre-diagnostics test can be performed for about $199 to $299, but this fee is waived or included in the final bill if you do decide to commit to the job.

According to one contractor via this RedFlagDeals.com forum thread, he claimed the cost for an average home for Aeroseal would be about $1,500 for a job that takes about five hours, which would include the labor and the pre- and post-diagnostic tests.  Usually sealing close to 98% of the vents, he notes that most of his customers were able to see annual energy savings ranging anywhere from $200 to $900, depending on the size of the home.  At the time of the post, he did note his customers could apply for a $400 rebate, effectively dropping the total costs.

Aeroseal of Southern New England notes the average price can range anywhere from $1,600 to $2,400, but as mentioned, some rebates could apply, saving some homeowners as much as $600.

How Aeroseal works

The first step involves plugging all of your home’s registers with foam as this will force the air into your ductwork to escape through the leaks if any are present.  By forcing the air to escape via this route, it can help the contractor determine where to start the sealing process.

A small access hole is then cut into the supply or the return and a part known as a temporary collar is attached.  At this time, your air conditioner’s parts — the coil, fan, and furnace — will be temporarily blocked with a foam block to help prevent any sealant particles from entering the system.

Next, a contractor will inject a non-toxic sealant into your ductwork, and doing so, will help the contractor determine how much leakage your system has in terms of square inches and can pinpoint the exact amount of air that is escaping through the ductwork.

Once prepped, an Aeroseal machine is connected to the ductwork via a lay flat tubing and the aerosol sealant will be injected into the ducts.  As this sealant moves through your system and escapes the leaks, it will collect at the edges of the hole until it completely seals, and as per the official website, it can seal up to 5/8ths of an inch.

Small aerosol particles are then injected and suspended in the airflow via continuous air movement to help collect on the holes and cracks in the ductwork to seal it from the inside.  As the process is running, the entire job is monitored by a computer, where you can see how effective the process is at the time.  The company notes ducts will be sealed with about one to two ounces of the sealant material.

Upon completion, you will be provided a summary, showing you the exact leak reduction inside your unit, summarizing your final results.

The pros of Aeroseal

In comparison to hand sealing, Aeroseal is able to reach inaccessible parts of the attic, such as homeowners who have a flat roof

No attic work needs to be done, making it much less labor-intensive and cleaner than other methods.

Unlike a radiant barrier, it’s going work quite reliably, regardless of how it was done.

Fixes common problems felt by homeowners such as uncomfortable hot or cold rooms, indoor quality and savings in utility bills.

At the end of the job, you get a documentation of the results, showing the pre- and post-test results.

Studies have shown that Aeroseal is 60 percent more effective than manually sealing ductwork.

The cons of Aeroseal

It’s not known to seal larger-than-average leaks, about 5/8-inches or larger, often the most important leaks in an HVAC system.  Since the computer program assumes all of the leaks have been sealed, contractors often do not go into the attic to physically inspect if the larger leaks have been seals, according to David Byrnes.

Some experts feel Aeroseal is not cost-effective as it can be up to four times more expensive than doing it by hand, and even with a 20 percent savings in energy, some state it could take up to 10 years to see a payback period.  With this additional savings, some feel the costs can be better spend on a higher quality attic insulation or variable speed pool pump, to name a few.  While the hand sealing, as most claim, is not as great, some feel the thousands of dollars will not be worth it since most will never see it.

Tips to know

To find an authorized Aeroseal dealer in your area, you can refer to this official “Find a Dealer” tool via the official website.

Most homeowners have found up to 90 percent of their leaks sealed after the job completes.

Aeroseal does not coat the ductwork; rather, it will only fill the leaks inside of the ductwork from the inside.

At the end of complete, the product has a 10-year warranty for all residential properties

It’s guaranteed for 10 years and has been stressed tested for 40 years in residential applications.

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GFCI Outlet Installation Cost

Replacing or installing a new GFCI outlet, in general, will cost similar to that of a standard outlet, with the exception of the actual part itself.

As code, a GFCI outlet may be required, often where moisture and/or water is present such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room and garage, for example.

“GFCI” (CC BY 2.0) by lizzardo

Costs to install a GFCI outlet

The costs of installing or replacing a GFCI outlet will depend on a few factors, including the contractor you hire, the scope of the job (replacement vs. new install), additional repairs which may arise during the install and your geographical location.  As long as there is a proper ground conductor at the receptacle box, a standard receptacle can be replaced by a GFCI outlet, according to Mehdi Heidarian at Armor Electric.  However, if there isn’t a reliable source of ground at the receptacle box, then provision of ground needs to be performed to ensure the home’s safety.

As a standard straightforward install, a GFCI outlet will be as easy as installing a standard 120V outlet, with the average contractor charging anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour, often with a $100 to $150+ job minimum.  To put these numbers in perspective, a seasoned professional can often install as many as 10 outlets in as little as an hour as long as it’s a simple swap, not a brand new install which would require wiring.  With all of this being said, the price of just the GFCI outlet can cost $9 to $20+, while the install for just one can cost $125 to $150, bringing your total to about $130 to $170 for both parts and labor for just one outlet.  However, if you were to need additional GFCI outlets installed on the same day, then it’s probably safe to add about $25 per outlet as your contractor will only have a high price for one outlet due to the minimum job charges.

For a new outlet location, the costs will depend on the location of the breaker and how much wiring is required, but for most jobs, the cost tends to be in the $175 to $275 range for a new GFCI oulet and location.

As every job can be quite unique, we highly recommend you use the free quote comparison tool, HomeAdvisor.com.  With this tool, you simply explain your job and multiple licensed and reputable contractors in your area will contact you with a free, no-obligation quote.  No credit card is required to use this service.

Additional costs to consider

Moving an outlet:  If you do not like the current location of your outlet, an electrician can move it nearby, usually for about $25 to more than $250, all depending on how far the outlet needs to be moved.  As it will require more material costs, the conditions of the walls will often be the biggest factors for the electrician as he or she will have to tear about the drywall to access the wiring behind, whereas a new home that still has the beams exposed could cost much less.

Rewiring:  In the case of a faulty GFCI outlet, it can sometimes lead to faulty wiring that needs to be replaced and depending on the amount of wiring required and time involved, this could easily add $500 to as much as a few thousand to your total project costs.

Service panel replacement:  Like the wiring, the service panel can be the culprit in some cases, which can often add $1,000 to $2,000+ to your project.  The same can be said about homeowners who want to upgrade their service panels as well.  This is often rare but sometimes the cause of the problem for a faulty GFCI outlet.

What is a GFCI outlet?

A GFCI outlet, which stands for a ground fault circuit interrupter, is an outlet which is designed to help protect you from severe electric shocks caused by your home’s electrical system and is different than that of a fuse, according to HowStuffWorks.com.  This outlet can monitor the flow of the current, and in the case of detecting a ground fault, it is designed to immediately cut the power to prevent any burns or shock of anyone who may come in contact.  If it senses any imbalance, even as small as four milliamps, it can trip the circuit immediately, reacting in as little as one-thirtieth of a second.

GFCI Requirements

Bathrooms:  All outlets need a 20-amp circuit, with receptacles requiring GFCI protection.

Kitchen:  Two 20-amp small appliance circuits, at a minimum, to serve the countertop receptacles.  All outlets within six feet of the six need to be GFCI protected.

Laundry Room:  At least one 20-amp circuit for any shared washer/gas dryer receptacle, with electric dryers requiring a separate 30-amp, 340-volt circuit wired with four conducts.  All receptacles in the laundry room will require GFCI protection.

Garage:  Will require at least one receptacle, including one for each car space.  All receptacles will require protection.

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How Much Does Gwynnie Bee Cost?

Gwynnie Bee is a monthly subscription service which offers unlimited styles for women to browse, experience and then decide either to return or buy what they received.

With more than 150+ brands and styles, the company offers unlimited exchanges, free shipping back and forth, allowing you to shop smarter, discover new clothing and having fun, all while take a lot less risk.

How much does Gwynnie Bee cost per month?

The costs of Gwynnie Bee will greatly depend on the subscription plan you choose as the company does offer a variety of plans, ranging from 1 to as many as 10 items at a time.  At the time of this publishing, the costs, according to the official website, can range from $49 for one item to as much as $199 for 10 items, but they do offer a free 30-day trial period on the two item plan for new members only.  Shipping back and forth will be 100 percent free.

The prices above will only include the subscription box service where they send the box itself and will not include the costs of the clothing if you were to commit to the clothing you’re sent.  On Revelist.com, for example, she was quoted $21 for a dress, $36 for overalls and $30 for a jumpsuit, meaning you will have to budget even more if you plan on adding the articles of clothing to your wardrobe.  These prices, however, are said to be discounted by as much as 50 percent if you were to compare the prices at a local retailer.

How does Gwynnie Bee work?

As with any subscription box-based service, you will first want to create an account using your preferred email and password.  After, you will be asked for specific brands and what sizes you currently wear to assess which sizes in their inventory will fit you best.

With a newly created account, you are then free to browse the company’s entire catalog, ranging from shirts to denim to skirts; you can see a full list of categories on the official website’s homepage near the top.  While looking around on the website is free, you will be asked to sign up for a subscription plan if you do decide to have a box shipped to your home.

Once subscribed, you can then add clothing to your “virtual closet,” with each item you choose sent to your doorstep in the future or if you so choose, you can outright purchase the item without having it sent.  Inside of this virtual closet, according to Revelist.com, you can flag eight “priorities,” meaning the company will send at least one of those checked items inside of each box.  The company asks you create a closet filled with at least six articles of clothing to ensure there’s no interruption in your service.  The first box, according to your website, will ship within two to three days.

As you receive each item, you can then decide to keep everything, send back a select few or even send back everything using the company’s prepaid bags.  As soon as you drop off the bag, the company will then start preparing the next box with as many items that you send back.  As long as you’re active, then the company will continue to send boxes.  Anything you keep, as mentioned above, will be charged on top of your subscription fees, and the costs of each item will greatly depend on the article of clothing and brand you’re looking to purchase.

Tips to know

Some of the top brands the company carries, as per People Magazine, includes ASOS Curve, Mynt 1792, Carmakoma, NYDJ, ABS and BB Dakota.

The company originally started as a subscription box for plus-sized women but is now open to women sizes 0 to 32.

There will be no limit to how many times a month you can swap items, and regardless how many times you do it, there will never be an additional shipping fee.

All articles of clothing are dry cleaned upon arriving back to the company, and even in the case you get the pieces you receive dirty, the company will charge no additional fees upon inspection.  As per the FAQ, customers will not be held liable for any snags, hems falling out and/or staining.

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How Much Does Gilenya Cost?

Gilenya (FINGOLIMOD) is known to help prevent relapses of multiple sclerosis but is not considered to be a cure.

How much does Gilenya cost?

The costs of Gilenya, like all prescriptions, will greatly depend on your health insurance coverage and which pharmacy you choose, and at the time of this publishing, Gilenya is only offered a branded prescription, with no generic available.  According to the calls made to a few pharmacies in our area, such as CVS, Costco, Walgreens, and Walmart, the average cost seemed to be in the $5,500 per (28) 0.5-milligram range. 

As for insurance, it seemed like some health insurance policies would not cover this prescription, including Medicare, according to GoodRX.com, but this does not mean you cannot save money as some programs are readily available for patients who are looking for this prescription.  See our next subheading to see how you can potentially cut down the costs.  Forum members on MSWorld.org, for example, did note they had luck with their health insurance policies, with most paying $9 to $60 as a co-pay for a 30-day supply.

Healthline.com notes the average monthly supply can average $5,372.18 or close to $48,000 per year.

How to save on Gilenya

Gilenya coupon:  The official company of the medication, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, offers the Gilenya Co-Pay Program, a program which can help save you up to $12,000 per year, with most eligible patients paying a $0 co-pay, if you qualify.  According to the terms via the official website, you and your doctor will need to submit a form and based on the company’s eligibility requirements, someone will then contact you in regards to your application status.  This program, at the time of this publishing, is only available for those who have commercial insurance only, but to know your eligibility, the company highly recommends you contact them directly at 1-800-GILENYA.

Assistance Foundation:  Aside from the official coupon available for those with commercial insurance, the company also offers the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation, an assistance program which can help patients pay for your medication, with most receiving their medication at no cost.  Like most programs, you will need to qualify, and according to the terms, the program is open to those without insurance and for those with a limited income.  Also, you will need a proof of a valid prescription to qualify.

Patient assistance programs:  Aside from the typical federal and state assistance programs, there are plenty of non-profit organizations out there that want to help you with specific medications, including Gilenya.  The Good Days Patient Assistance Program and PAN Foundation, for example, both offer assistance for this particular drug for patients who meet qualification requirements.  For the Good Days Patient Assistance Program, for instance, patients will have to have insurance, a valid prescription and must be diagnosed for a specific disease to qualify, whereas the PAN Foundation asks for the same requirements as well but may offer different financial assistance in the long run.  If you think you qualify, be sure to fill out as many of these forms as possible to see if you can receive financial assistance.

A generic?  The patent for Gilenya will not expire until February 2019, but even after expiration, it doesn’t mean a generic will be readily available since a manufacturer will still need to manufacture it and the FDA will need to approve the drug as well.  However, when a generic is readily available, like many other prescription drugs, the costs will be much less.

Gilenya overview

The first dosage is often administered at the hospital or inside of your doctor’s office, and at this time, you will be monitored for side effects for at least six hours after your first dosage.  This monitoring can sometimes be done inside of your home as well, but regardless of where it’s done, the tests will include a blood test to see how many white blood cells you have, an EKG and an eye exam prior to starting the medication.  Tests will continue in the future to see how your body is responding to the medication.

Once you have completed your first dosage, always take this medication as prescribed by your doctor, meaning you should not take less, more or even stop without your doctor’s approval as doing so can greatly increase your chances of increased side effect symptoms.  You can take it with or without food, according to the medication guide.

Dosage amounts vary, but for most adults suffering from multiple sclerosis, patients will be prescribed 0.5 milligrams per day.

Gilenya side effects

Common side effects include abnormal live function tests, backaches, bronchitis, diarrhea, trouble breathing, coughing, depression, nausea, feeling like throwing up, head pain, abdominal pain, arm/leg pain, sinus irritation and/or flu-like symptoms.  This is not a full list of side effects; for a full list, do refer to this FDA guide.  As with any side effects felt by any medication, always consult with your doctor immediately with any concerns you may have.

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FreeStyle Libre Cost

The FreeStyle Libre system, a continuous glucose monitoring system, consists of a specialized handheld reader and a thin, flexible filament sensor which is worn on the back of your upper arm to help measure your glucose every minute.

To use, the company simply states all you need to do is scan the sensor with your handheld reader and the results, in less than seconds, will display the results on your reader, helping you replace the need for the routine fingersticks diabetic patients often use.

How much does the FreeStyle Libre cost?

The cost of the FreeStyle Libre will depend on a few factors, including where you purchase it, how often you need sensors and what kind of health insurance policy you have as many policies do cover this device.  Based on these factors, the costs we found online from previous patients who did purchase the device paid anywhere from $50 to $75 for the receiver for those who have insurance and about $35 to $75 per sensor with insurance, with the average sensor lasting about 10 days.

As for those without insurance, the startup costs tend to be in the $300 range, a price that would include the receiver and two sensors.  Sensors, purchased individually without insurance, however, should cost about $40 to $95+ from the retailer listings we found online, but the prices could drop if you purchased in bulk.  This price would greatly depend on the retailer/pharmacy you used.

As for health insurance, like any procedure/device, the costs can greatly depend on your provider and circumstances.  Most health insurance companies will not simply cover this device; rather, they will want a diagnosis first, claiming the device is crucial to your health, for example.  Other restrictions can apply as well and that is why it’s important to contact your health insurance provider to know your restrictions and what you may be responsible for if you were to need the device.  The official website of the company, for instance, offers a simple Medicare guide, showing you how you can qualify.  You can also visit this link to see what your insurance company may reimburse.

According to DiabetesDaily.com, via the calls they made to local pharmacies, CVS quoted $52.99 for the sensor, while Walgreens quoted $42.99 for the same 10-day sensor.

How does the FreeStyle Libre work?

The FreeStyle Libre consists of two parts:  the reader, usually a one-time purchase, and the sensors, which need to be replaced about every 10 days.

The sensors, as per the company, are small in size, comfortable to wear and very easy to apply as the thin filament sits beneath the skin to measure interstitial fluid.  Aside from this, the sensors require no fingerstick calibrations and can be worn up to 10 days, even while swimming or exercising, to name a few.

As for the reader, it can store up to 90 days of glucose data and is considered to be lightweight, user-friendly and even includes a built-in FreeStyle Precision Neo test strip port for blood glucose testing.  Each time you scan your sensor with your reader, the Sensor Glucose Readings screen will appear and will include the current reading, your current trends based on the past readings/where it’s heading and your eight-hour glucose history.

Tips to know

The fine print does note a fingerstick prick will be required if you see the “Check Blood Glucose” symbol, when symptoms do not match system readings, when you feel the readings are not right and/or when you’re experiencing high or low blood glucose symptoms.

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Fraxel Laser Treatments Cost

Fraxel laser treatments, a brand name of one of the first fractional lasers, are designed to help scale down the presence of fine lines, sun damage, acne, stretch marks, wrinkles and in some circumstances, the pre-cancerous skin condition known as actinic keratosis.

Like many laser-based treatments, patients should expect multiple sessions to see desirable results.

“NJ-Medical Spa” (CC BY 2.0) by GloriaMckelvy

How much do Fraxel laser treatments cost?

The costs of Fraxel laser treatments will depend on a few factors, including your geographical region, the doctor you use, the type of Fraxel machine they use (ablative vs. non-ablative), the area being treated and the number of treatments necessary to see desirable results.  Based on these factors, the average costs per session can range from $750 to $900 per treatment, with many offices offering discounts if you commit to multiple sessions in the future, often totaling close to $1,500 to $2,800 for a full treatment, greatly depending on the number of treatments needed.

From most of the doctor’s answers online, the average patient will require three to four sessions to encourage collagen stimulation and see desirable results, with most doctors offering you an estimation based on your initial consultation.  This will all depend on your skin damage severity most of the time.

NOTE:  To receive these estimates, we sourced multiple quotes online that people posted and compiled an average.  Remember, your results could vary based on the factors mentioned prior.

According to Tanya Kormeili, MD via Realself.com, she claims Fraxel lasers are one of the best technologies to use since the doctor has to purchase a new tip everytime he or she uses it on your skin, the reason for the pricier costs in comparison to comparable treatment methods.  She warns, however, that you need to be careful when a practice advertises a lower-than-average rice since some machines are made with cheaper parts from a different manufacturer but will still be advertised as a “Fraxel” laser.  In the end, she noted her practice does offer packages for the neck and chest, to name a few, with the average session costing about $950.

Types of Fraxel treatments

There are three popular types of Fraxel laser treatments, each varying in downtime, the number of procedures required, aggressiveness, after-care and results.

Fraxel re:fine:  This is known to be the gentlest version and is often considered for maintenance purposes.  This non-ablative cosmetic procedure will help stave off any signs of aging, including minor skin damage, fine lines, age spots or pigment irregularities, to name a few.  Requiring up to four to six treatments, the downtime is minimal and discomfort is known to be quite mild.

Fraxel re:store:  A fraction, non-ablative laser treatment session designed to help with mild to severe skin damage such as acne scars, surgical scars, melasma, age spots and dry patches on the skin.  For re:store, the average patient needs three to five treatments, with mild to moderate discomfort often reported.

Fraxel re:pair:  Provides dramatic results that’s known to tighten the skin and correct even the most severe skin damage, including deep frown lines, wrinkles and sun-induced redness.  Touted as a single laser treatment involving a CO2 laser, it can cause significant discomfort for some, often requiring downtime that lasts as long as a week or more.

How does the Fraxel laser work?

The laser will create tiny “microthermal” zones which are deep into the skin to essentially push out the old damaged skin and replace it with a healthier skin.  Every treatment, on average, can replace up to 20 percent of the damaged skin by triggering the healing process accelerating collagen production and new, healthy skin cells.  For each centimeter squared, 1,000 to 2,000 microthermal zones are created on average.

Results will vary by the individual, but most see results within seven days of their initial treatment, with collagen continue to develop months after the first sessions.  Doctors often recommend you wait at least four to six months to see the best results.

How does the procedure work?

Before the laser treatment process even begins, the technician will first cleanse the treatment area and apply a numbing cream to the area being treated.  After applied, you then be asked to relax for the next 60 minutes or so until the numbing cream takes effect, and during this time, you can relax, listen to music or browse your phone.

After the 60 minutes expire, the numbing cream is removed and depending on the version of the laser being used, a blue dye may be used; however, with the newer versions, this isn’t necessary.  Then, a thin layer of gel, again, may be applied to the area being treated in order for the laser to glide smoothly, all depending on the type of laser being used.  The newest laser paired with the Fraxel Dual will not require the gel or the blue dye, for example.

The entire treatment will take about 60 minutes and many patients recommend it feeling like a pin and needle-like sensation, with discomfort levels ranging from mild to moderate.  From start to finish, most spend upwards of two to three hours at the office and can drive home immediately after the treatment ends.

Recovery

After the procedure, the skin often feels as if it were sunburned for up to 24 hours, but often, ice packs or a frozen pack of vegetables/fruit can be used to help subside the pain.  The skin will look red for the next few days but will generally subside as the days go on.  Usually, you will be able to resume normal activities almost immediately and in some rare cases, bruising may develop, which, like the sunburn sensation, could take days, or sometimes more than a week, to clear.  To be safe from any visual side effects, doctors recommend the procedure at least three to four weeks before a big event such as a wedding.

Side effects

As with any cosmetic procedures, side effects do exist, including temporary swelling, crusting, small blisters or bruising on the skin.  Before the procedure even begins, your doctor will have you sign a consent form, explaining the potential side effects you may experience during the session.

What does the Fraxel laser treat?

• Sun damage, wrinkles and/or aging signs on the face, chest, neck, hands, legs, arms and back.
• Particular cases of melasma
• Scars, including surgical and acne scars
• Improve the fine lines around the eyes and eyelids
• Improve skin texture and tone
• Reduce precancerous lesions by replacing the damaged skin with healthier, new skin

Tips to know

Fraxel offers both non-ablative and ablative laser treatments.  The non-ablative treatments, such as re:store and re:fine can offer a quick-than-average recovery time, with very little downtime, while the ablative treatment, the re:pair, is typically a one-time treatment option only and can take up to seven days to recover, depending on your circumstances.

The procedure can be combined with other cosmetic treatments, such as Juvederm, Restylane or temporary/semi-permanent fillers.

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How Much Does Flovent Cost?

The Flovent (fluticasone) inhaler, a prescription used to help treat the symptoms of asthma by decreasing the inflammation in your lungs, is only available as a brand name at the time of this publishing, with no generics readily available.

How much does the Flovent inhaler cost?

The costs of the Flovent inhaler, as with any prescription, will depend on the dosage, the quantity prescribed, the pharmacy you choose and your health insurance policy if you have one.  Based on these factors, we broke down the costs in the table below as there were a few options available.  Keep in mind that these prices are for those without any health insurance.

NOTE:  These prices were sourced by calling multiple pharmacies in our region (Costco, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, CVS and Walmart) and were then averaged out.  From our phone calls, the prices didn’t vary too much but use this as an estimate only.  Prices are subject to change.

As for health insurance, most health insurance companies, including most Medicare plans, will cover this prescription, but not all of them from what we witnessed online.  As with any prescription medication, nothing is guaranteed in terms of insurance coverage, so to be certain that your policy will cover this drug before being prescribed, either search your health insurance company’s official drug database or talk with your health insurance company directly to see what you may be responsible for.

How to save on Flovent

Official patient assistance program:  The official manufacturer of the drug, GlaxoSmithKline, does offer a program known as GSK Access, a program which can help you receive this inhaler at little to no cost.  As with most programs, however, you will have to qualify in order to receive a discount and according to the fine print, it does note you will need to be enrolled in Medicare Part D, have a valid prescription, a proof of income and a copy of your Medicare insurance card.  For more information to see if you do qualify for a discount on this prescription if you cannot afford it, you can fill out an application by visiting GSKforyou.com.

Patient assistance programs:  Aside from the typical federal and state assistance programs, there are plenty of non-profit organizations out there that want to help you with specific medications, including Cimizia.  The PAN Foundation, for example, both offer assistance for this particular drug for patients who meet qualification requirements.  To take advantage of the program, for instance, patients will have to have insurance, a valid prescription and must be diagnosed with a specific disease to qualify.  If you think you qualify, be sure to fill out as many of these forms as possible to see if you can receive financial assistance.

Prescription coupons:  Just like a health insurance policy, online prescription coupons via third-party websites, such as GoodRX.com, can help you save up 80%.  Available for anyone, it works just like health insurance — all you have to do is find the prescription drug you need, the pharmacy you want to use, and with that information, you print out the free coupon and present it at your local pharmacy just like you would your insurance card.  If going this route, however, you will not be able to combine your health insurance plan with it; you can either use one or another.

Longer supply:  If you know you will need this prescription for longer than 30 days and do not mind paying upfront, ask your doctor for a larger supply to help cut down on the costs.

What about a generic?  The patent did expire in August 2016, and when a generic is available, it’s almost guaranteed to be cheaper than that of the brand name.  However, just because the patent expired, it doesn’t mean a generic will be readily available immediately as it’s still up to a manufacturer to make and the FDA will have to approve it.  With an expired patent, be sure to ask your doctor to keep you updated as to one may be readily available to help you save on the costs of the inhaler.

Flovent overview

Flovent is inhaled through the mouth, and after using, you will want to rinse your mouth out with water, making sure you do not swallow any.  Always follow the directions on the label and your doctor’s orders, never taking more, less or stopping without first consulting.  As with any prescription, talk with your doctor if you have any concerns or questions.

What are the side effects?

Side effects to watch out for include allergic reactions, a change in vision, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, trouble breathing, unusual swelling, white patches on the skin, coughing, dry mouth, flushing, headaches and/or a loss of taste.  This is not a full list of all side effects; for more information, refer to this official FDA guide.  If you experience any side effects you’re uncomfortable with, talk with your doctor immediately.

Tips to know

The inhaler will not work fast and will not be able to stop an asthma attack in the process, and for this reason, always make sure you have a rescue inhaler on hand.

As the active ingredient in the inhaler can suppress your immune system, talk to your doctor if you have any bacterial, fungal or viral infections, liver disease, tuberculosis or a weakened immune system.

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Fentanyl Patch Cost

The Fentanyl patch, the generic version of the branded Duragesic, is a pain relieving patch, often used to treat persistent to chronic pain and is only prescribed for those who have been taking either an opioid or narcotic pain medicine for more than a week.

Originally created as an anesthetic to be used during surgery, it was then created into a small patch, the size of a small Band-Aid, more than a decade ago as a way to allow the medication to be released transdermally over time to help those suffering from severe chronic pain.

Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, it can be highly effective for some but addictive for others.

How much does the Fentanyl patch cost?

The cost of the Fentanyl patch, being a prescription, will depend on a few factors, including the pharmacy you use, your health insurance policy (if you have it) and the dosage/quantity prescribed by your doctor.  With a variety of options available, we included the costs we were quoted in our table below.

As for those who do have a health insurance policy, it appears from our research that almost all policies, including 99% of Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans will cover the drug, with the average health insurance holder paying as little as a $5 co-pay.  Since there are hundreds of policies out there, it can be hard to offer an exact cost for your specific plan, and for that reason, we recommend you either check your health insurance company’s online drug database to see what you may pay or contact your health insurance company directly for more information as to what you will be responsible for.

Fentanyl patch overview

The Fentanyl patch, a strong narcotic analgesic, is designed to help treat severe pain, including following a surgery and when server chronic pain needs to be alleviated around the clock, by acting on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve any pain.    The patch, as per the medication guide, should not be used when pain medicine is only required for a short period of time, such as after a tonsil or dental surgery.

Dosing amounts will vary from patient to patient and for the reason for prescribing, with your doctor determining which dosage of patch you need based on your present daily narcotic dosage; however, for adults, your doctor will often ask you apply the patch to your skin for 72 hours, but during this time, your doctor may adjust the duration/dosage.  Keep in mind that this is the average dosage, and again, your dosages may vary.  Regardless, always follow your doctor’s orders, meaning you should never take more, less or stop taking without first consulting with your doctor.  It is very easy to overdose on fentanyl if you are a novice user, according to Raffi Balian via CBC.ca.

How do you use the Fentanyl patch?

The patch will be applied to the skin, but it’s extremely important you do not cut or damage the patch as this can cause you to receive too much medicine.  When applying, choose a dry and clean area of your skin above your waist on either your front or back, with the back often being a good choice for either children or those who may be at risk of removing it for no reason.  Never apply the patch to oily, broken, burned, cut and/or irritated skin and only use water to clean the area before applying.  Avoid using alcohol or soap as this can often increase the effects of the medicine.

When applying, take the patch out of its wrapper, take off the protective strip over the sticky part, but make sure you do not touch the sticky part with your fingers while doing so.  Also, make sure the patch is in good shape, making sure the packaging or backing is damaged; if so, you will not want to use it.  Press the sticky part against the skin for at least 30 seconds and wash your hands immediately after.

When it’s time to take the old patch off, you will remove it, fold the patch in half and dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet, according to the FDA.  Never throw away in the trash.

Fentanyl patch side effects

Side effects may include allergic reactions, breathing problems, confusion, low blood pressure symptoms, trouble passing urine, constipation, dry mouth, itching at the patch site, nausea and/or tiredness.  This is not a full list of all noted side effects; to view more, you can do so via this FDA guide.  As always, if you experience any side effects, contact your doctor immediately.

How long does fentanyl stay in your system?

When taken intravenously, fentanyl has an elimination half-life of two to four hours in adults, which essentially means if can take up to 24 hours to completely leave your system; however, fentanyl can show up in a hair test for up to 90 days after using.

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