any low cost or free for supplies

[marniqua]

my 10 year old has had type 1 for over 4 years ,our insurance wont cover much of the cost,my husband was hurt at work and workers comp has not been paying the right amount he should be getting so we were wondering if there are any programs that have a lower cost for or a free supply program pump supplies test strips ect dont know where to go.

[medhelp77]

Just wanted to add that since you have a 10 year old child, several of the sites described at http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistance-programs/free-insulin-pump-supplies-1.html might be helpful.  There seems to be more help available for pump supplies for children than for adults.

[medhelp77]

Some great resources for locating free and low cost clinics are the two links I have listed below.  These clinics usually require proof of income to be eligible for services (which can include doctor's visits and even lab work).  I’m a Type I who doesn’t have any insurance either and these types of clinics have worked for me—I have received very low cost doctor’s visits and lab work.

https://www.pparx.org/FreeClinicFinder.php

http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

Both of these links, once you enter your information, will tell you the nearest free and low cost clinics; there usually are several clinics to choose from.

The website www.needymeds.com is a great resource for downloading forms to get free or low cost medications.  There are many different companies that provide free insulin and many other types of medications (click on the Brand or Generic name drugs link, then click the first letter of the type of medication you use and it should show up on the list), and there is one company (Abbott—the makers of FreeStyle and Precision Xtra test strips) that will provide a monthly supply of free test strips and lancets (all FreeStyle or Precision Xtra brand, and they also give you one of their FreeStyle or Precision Xtra meters), but you must apply to their patient assistance program as well as Medicaid and provide Abbott with a Medicaid rejection letter.  Here’s the direct link to the Abbott program:

http://www.needymeds.org/company_list.taf?_function=name&program_id=1047

(If anyone knows of any other companies that have free test strip programs, please let everyone else here know—it would be *greatly* appreciated.)

You will need to have your doctor fill out the forms and provide you with a prescription, and you will also need to provide proof of income.  Receiving medications from pharmaceutical companies such as these can sometimes take at least two weeks.  Also remember that doctors and hospitals often provide samples, as well as the health department.  

I've heard about hospital charity programs that can help with various things as well but don't have any personal experience dealing with them.  You would need to call a hospital's business office or financial aid office and ask about charity care programs.

Thought I would add a link that lists organizations that claim to provide insulin pump supplies free of charge if a person provides financial proof that they are eligible.  I don’t have experience in obtaining free insulin pump supplies from any organization, so you may want to email these organizations.  The link is:

http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistance-programs/free-insulin-pump-supplies-1.html

The organizations listed at this link that appear to be the most helpful are:

http://www.charlesray.g12.com/  
The Charles Ray III Diabetes Association (their email address is ***@****).  One drawback though is their $15 application fee.  You may want to email them and explain your situation, and maybe they could tell you whether you would be eligible for their program without having to pay an application fee.

http://www.insulin-pumpers.org/  
(their email address is [email protected]); I wasn’t able to find any specific information on the website about financial assistance for pump supplies, but the link said they “offer financial assistance through their Insulin Pumpers Foundation program.”  You may want to email them and explain your situation, and maybe they can direct you to the appropriate help.

http://www.ipump.org/    
(their email address is program-***@****)

http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/assistance-programs/free-insulin-pump-supplies-1.html also lists and describes several other links that may be helpful.  

Medhelp apparently does not let anyone post emails, but the emails for the websites can be found on the websites.  If you need help finding them, just send me an email and I will email them to you.

Hope this helps & God Bless You!