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Diabetes - Juvenile Community

This patient support community is for questions related to juvenile diabetes including celiac disease, depression, diabetic complications, hyperglycemia / diabetic keto-acidosis, hypoglycemia, islet cell transplantation, nutritional issues, parenting a diabetic child, pregnancy, pump therapy, school issues, and teens with diabetes.
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Insurance?

by Nikkie1376, Aug 29, 2004 12:00AM
I have been a type 1 diabetic for 19 years and have resently found myself without insurance. My family income is just over the acceptable level for medicaid and I cannot pay for my insulin or the doctor vistits or the needed labs. Does any one have information that might help me?

by JDRF-Team-dm, Aug 30, 2004 12:00AM
Dear Nikkie1376,



Thank you so much for reaching out to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I am a volunteer and cannot give you medical advice, but I can try to give you a few resources for financial aid.



I am so sorry that you find yourself in this position. Too many children and adults are unable to recieve the health benefits that are crucial to sustain their life with the medicines that are needed. My son has also had periods when we didn't know whether he would have coverage or not. As Christie has said it is unfortunately not uncommon.



I do have a few websites that I trust and may be able to help. I am also going to try to find additional information to  possibly assist you. In the meantime, these are three that you should check into.



The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association is www.phrma.org and the phone number is 800-762-4636



The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a publication called "Financial help for Diabetes Care". They are at http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/summary/finhelp/finhelp.htm



The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrf.org. Check the resource link or the online diabetes support team. This is a one on one direct link to a volunteer that may have had the same experience as you are facing with helpful advice.



We know how important it is to maintain tight control of type 1 and this is impossible without resources to obtain strips for testing and insulin.



Please watch for further comments and let us know what you find out. I will be posting further with more research.



dm











Member Comments (6)

by nurse12hr, Aug 29, 2004 12:00AM
To: Nikkie
Your problem is unfortunately not uncommon.  I found a site that might be of some assistance:



https://www.helpingpatients.org/Intro.php



Otherwise, contact your local health dept. and see if there is a clinic you could go to for reduced costs.  Contact your Social Service dept, too, and inquire if there is any other program you could qualify for.  



Here is another website that lists contact info for some of the major pharmaceutical companies and others who may be able to be of help...it is hard to read and confusing, but if you have patience there are a lot of programs listed.



http://okabletech.okstate.edu/Abletech/drugcompany.htm



Good luck to you.

by nurse12hr, Aug 29, 2004 12:00AM
To: found a better site!
This one seems to have it all.  Take a look and see what you think!  Insulin is listed.



http://www.needymeds.com/indices/genericname.shtml#I

by nurse12hr, Aug 29, 2004 12:00AM
To: Lilly has a program
see this:  includes some types of insulins.



http://www.needymeds.com/programs/lilly.html



sorry to post so many times!  I should have just waited til I surfed around a bit and found them all at once!

by Nikkie1376, Aug 30, 2004 12:00AM
Thanks! I'm checking on all the links.

by Mr_Gatorade, Sep 16, 2004 12:00AM
I am in the same boat, Nikkie, as far as not being able to afford

insulin / test strips.



I printed out forms from www.helpingpatients.org and will take them

to my doctor when I see him at the end of October.



Will let you know what happens later,



Nick
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