You can enroll in an insurance program through healthcare. gov, a public database provided under the Affordable Care Act. Under AFA, you cannot be turned down for preexisting conditions and you may be eligible for a discounted premium depending on your current income. There is a toll-free number to call if you have any questions. [1] X Research source You can try to pursue a private insurance program on your own. You will have to undergo a health insurance physical, which will serve to determine your pay rate. This choice may be costly, especially if you already have diabetes. This may increase your monthly premium. If you are currently employed, see if your employer provides health care options and what you need to do to get on their plan.
Medicare Part B is basic medical insurance provided by Medicare. Part B will cover blood sugar self-testing equipment and supplies, insulin pumps, and therapeutic shots or shoe inserts. [2] X Research source If you have or are at risk for diabetes, you’ll be encouraged to enroll in Medicare Part D, which is Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This will cover diabetes supplies insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs. [3] X Research source Make sure you find health care providers that accept Medicare as a form of payment. Not all providers do and you’ll be required to pay full costs of coverage if your medicare is denied. [4] X Research source
Medicaid should cover inpatient and outpatient services for most medical issues. This means doctor’s appointments regarding diabetes will be covered as well as diabetes supplies. As with Medicare, make sure the health insurance provider you choose accepted Medicaid before making an appointment. If your doctor does not accept Medicaid, you’ll be expected to pay full costs.
Certain herbicides that veterans are sometimes exposed to during service can cause diabetes. If this is the case for you, you may be entitled to full coverage and disability assistance. [5] X Research source Even if your diabetes is not a result of your service, you are entitled to some health care coverage as a veteran. A variety of diabetes supplies may be covered depending on your program and benefits. Talk to someone at your local VA office to ask about coverage. [6] X Research source
Rx Assist provides a database of pharmaceutical assistance programs. You can search by your location, health condition, age, income level, and other factors to find a program that matches your needs. [7] X Research source Rx Hope serves to put you in contact with coordinators and volunteers that can help you obtain free or discounted meds. If, after finding a program through Rx Assist, you need help with paperwork and other logistics you can get assistance at securing free medication and supplies via Rx Hope. [8] X Research source
There is a brief online application you’ll need to fill out and submit online. After completing the application, someone from PPA will contact you with a list of potential assistantship programs that could help you obtain free meds. While PPA can help you find programs, you’ll have to complete applications to individual programs on your own time. PPA does not process applications and cannot grant you free health care on its own.
GoFundMe does charge a flat fee of 5% on all donations collected. Plan ahead for the fact that the total money collected for your cause might not be the total money you’ll receive. [9] X Research source You can only hold an online even for so long. Try to appeal to your needs. Explain your financial situation and cost of medication. Give ranges of donations that would be helpful. Be very gracious for any donations you receive. [10] X Research source
Choose an event people will enjoy. Dinners, drinks, and competitions tend to draw in crowds. Try collaborating with a local business. A local bar, for example, might host a drink night where a certain percentage of their profit for the night goes to your cause. You can advertise using social media, which is probably the cheapest route. You can also put up fliers around town and ask local newspapers and radios to spread the word.
If you can’t find a way to get free testing supplies, there are on-line sources of diabetic supplies that are very affordable with low shipping costs or free shipping with a minimum purchase. Catch a sale and you save even more.
Educate yourself so that you will better understand how this disease and its complications work. Knowledge is power. Learn how to make lifestyle choices that will put you in the driver’s seat. Then, take what you learn and put it into action. [11] X Trustworthy Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Action gets results. Attitude is important in managing diabetes. Instead of viewing diabetes as a compromised life filled with “do’s” and “don’ts”, look at this as an opportunity to live a healthier life that may even be healthier than you’ve ever lived before. Embrace a totally new lifestyle rather than try to “fix” the old one. View your old life as dead and gone, walk away from it and don’t ever look back. Successful diabetes management isn’t giving up on living but rather considering it to be a way to move up to a new, different way of living that is healthier and more enjoyable.
Don’t expect to be perfect. Learn to forgive yourself as you go through the discouragements that will come. But, don’t you ever quit!
