Can You Sell Test Strips You Got Through Insurance?
- Matt Frank
- June 22, 2026
- 11:51 pm
Many people end up with extra strips precisely because of their insurance, which ships refills on a schedule, whether or not they are using them. If that is you, it is fair to ask whether you can sell test strips you got through insurance. It is one of the most common reasons people look into selling at all.
The answer depends on what kind of insurance paid for them. Test Strip Buyers works with sellers in this exact situation, and the rule that matters is easy to remember. Once you know it, the rest of the decision falls into place.
This post explains which insurance-related supplies you can sell, which you cannot, and how to be sure before you ship.
The Short Answer on Selling Insurance Test Strips
If you own the strips and they were not paid for by a government program, you can sell them. Supplies received through private insurance or bought out of pocket are yours to resell. Ownership is the deciding factor, not the fact that insurance was involved.
The single exception is anything funded by Medicare or Medicaid. Those supplies belong to a government benefit and cannot be resold, even if you have a drawer full of them.
So the question is less about insurance in general and more about which type of coverage paid the bill.
Private Insurance Versus Medicare and Medicaid
Private insurance plans, including those through an employer or the marketplace, are treated like an out-of-pocket purchase once the supplies are yours. You are free to sell what you do not use. The plan paid its share, and the supplies are now simply yours.
Medicare and Medicaid are different. Strips funded by these programs are meant for a specific person, and reselling them is considered fraud, so Test Strip Buyers does not buy them.
If your plan is private, you are almost certainly clear to sell. If a government program paid, leave those boxes out.
How to Tell What Paid for Your Strips
The packaging usually tells the story. Boxes funded by a government program are often marked with language such as for use by Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries only. That printed language is the clearest signal that a box is off limits.
Check the label before you ship, and set aside anything with that marking. When you are not sure, it is safer to leave a box out than to risk sending one that cannot be bought.
If you want the details in one place, the frequently asked questions page covers eligibility clearly. A quick call before shipping also clears up any doubt.
Why Selling Insurance Surplus Is So Common
Insurance over-supply is one of the most common reasons people sell. Plans often ship a set quantity each month, which adds up fast when your testing routine changes. Many sellers discover a months-long backlog they never opened.
Switching meters or moving to a continuous glucose monitor leaves many people with sealed strips they will never open. Selling those keeps them from expiring in a closet. Those sealed boxes are exactly what a buyer can put to use.
It also puts usable supplies back into circulation for people who pay out of pocket. If you are weighing it, our guide on what is legal covers the rules in full.
Selling Your Insurance Surplus the Right Way
The process is the same as any other sale. Gather your sealed, unexpired, privately funded boxes, leave the labels in place, and request a quote and a free shipping kit.
Test Strip Buyers covers shipping with a prepaid label, inspects on arrival, and pays by check or PayPal. First-time sellers who send at least 200 valid test strips within two weeks also earn a bonus.
Keep the Medicare and Medicaid boxes out, and the rest of your insurance surplus can become cash you can use. Sorting them first keeps your shipment clean and your payment on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually yes, if a private plan paid and the supplies are now yours. Only strips funded by Medicare or Medicaid cannot be resold.
They are funded by a government program for a specific person, so reselling them is treated as fraud. Boxes are marked for beneficiary use only.
Check the box for markings such as for Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries only. If a box has that language, set it aside and do not ship it.
You simply need to make sure the boxes are yours, sealed, unexpired, and not government-funded. Privately insured and out-of-pocket supplies qualify.
When in doubt, leave it out of your shipment. You can also call Test Strip Buyers before sending to confirm whether a box qualifies.
Cash In Your Insurance Surplus
Have a stack of strips your insurance kept sending? If a private plan or your own wallet paid, Test Strip Buyers makes it simple to sell test strips from insurance you will never use, with free shipping and payment by check or PayPal. Start a quote or call (800) 439-6445.
