Insurance?

[Nikkie1376]

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?

[JDRF-Team-dm]

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

[nurse12hr]

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.

[nurse12hr]

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

[nurse12hr]

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!

[Nikkie1376]

Thanks! I'm checking on all the links.

[Mr_Gatorade]

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