Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by samsmom on February 20, 2011 at 3:20pm

Check out the www.needymeds.org site and click on the Diabetes Resource Page. At least it's a place to start. Hope you find something.

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Permalink Reply by MidwestMommy on February 20, 2011 at 3:54pm

There are some state insurance pools for high risk individuals, you may qualify. Also, the big pharma companies all have programs for situations like this. Thirdly I would contact my endo's office and explain your situation. I don't know about getting pods due to their expense but I think you could get basic MDI supplies.

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Permalink Reply by ultravires on February 20, 2011 at 4:52pm

i thought COBRA extends 18 months???

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Permalink Reply by Kari on February 20, 2011 at 5:07pm

I thought this too.

COBRA is expensive for Type 1s though (I was on COBRA for 3 months and it was about $800 a month)

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Permalink Reply by MidwestMommy on February 23, 2011 at 7:09pm

The Cobra price is the same regardless of your health situation.

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Permalink Reply by Hismouse on February 20, 2011 at 5:10pm

I haven't any Ins either, lost it last OCT. Its scary.. the thing I notice is all the help out there like at the Needmeds ask for your DR to sing and I don't have one...are they dumb as a rock.. Shoot we loose Ins we looose out Doctors.

I hope you find some help, I am trying to get some, but state medical is on hold, no money to help they say.

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Permalink Reply by Kathy on February 28, 2011 at 7:41am

Even if you have to use a walk in clinic I would get a doctor to sign for the prescriptions. Another thing is you if you live within driving distance of a teaching hospital with clinics and pharmacy attached you can also go that route. The reason I am saying this is because Federal Law mandates that all hospitals and or clinics that receive federal funds must provide charity care for those unable to pay. I don't have insurance either and I use charity care and it is a blessing. I take care of my Mom and Sister full-time and I don't know what I would do without this help. Two states Washington and New Jersey actually have charity care mandated as State Law. Definitely check into it.

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Permalink Reply by hugorivas on February 20, 2011 at 9:02pm

Maybe some state programs. My grandmother before she passed from complications was getting state help. Check your local gov. sites.

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Permalink Reply by Ellen Hayes on February 21, 2011 at 2:35pm

I never qualified for COBRA because the company that laid me off had small group insurance (less than 20 employees). that allowed 15 months of coverage that has been exhausted. My health insurance offered an individual insurance Conversion Plan but it does not cover prescriptions and it cost $679.80 a month..that to me is a rip off. Don't they realize we will die without insulin? the Ohio High Risk Pool costs $510/mo for someone in my age bracket and i have to have been uninsured for 6 months and must prove it to qualify for it. I am checking every possible lead and I appreciate all of your input, fellow diabetic brothers and sisters!

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Permalink Reply by Billy Athens on March 1, 2011 at 5:03am

in Illinois, the state has a program for people that don't qualify for COBRA... it's called I-CHIP (Illinois Comp. Health Insurance Program) - look for something similar in your state and try not to let 63 days pass without coverage or else you may have to wait a full year due to pre-existing condition....

best of luck!

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Permalink Reply by KimKat on February 24, 2011 at 8:10am

Hi Ellen,

I have been without insurance since 2006! I am unemployed and have 0 dollars so I know how you feel. I didn't find out I had D until about a year ago so I didn't really have many health issues that I had to worry about paying before that. Well, D definately made it harder. I am Type 2 so my D care may be a bit easier or cheaper than yours but I found a low cost clinic through this website here:

http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
Depending on your income and where you go, you can pay as little as $15 for visits. For my meds, I go to Walmart which is really cheap and I also use the Walmart Relion meter and strips. I do believe Walmart has insulin too but I don't know too much about what is considered cheap and a good deal for that. Nor for the OmniPod but I am sure you could discuss options with the staff and doctors if you find a good place.

The clinic I go to now actually states that they provide regular care for diabetes so I think more places are focusing on that. Of course, no endo or specialists if that is what you need but if you can find a good doctor at one of these clinic maybe you can make it through until you have insurance again.

Good luck. It is so hard to be without insurance in America and it definately takes some resourcefulness to get what you need. There are many things I have to put off - like I should be seeing an ENT for my ears but obviously I can't. For my women's stuff I am lucky to be in a state program that is free and I have the low cost clinic to go to for my diabetes.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on February 24, 2011 at 12:46pm

I checked out the high risk program and it would have been over $700 each for me and my husband that is $1500 for both of us and we would have had to still buy my daughter insurance. I would check the sites mentioned above and contact the drug manufactuer directly. You may qualify for free or reduced priced drugs. Your last resort may have to be to go back to MDI and buy insulin at Walmart, if you can't get assistance.

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