feeling like second class

[disgusted]

First of all hi to everyone am new here . Was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2004. I changed jobs because of health reasons due to that I lost my insurance because I could not afford cobra. Had a what the doctor said stroke and lost my new job due to that . Was told to apply for disability due to several medical probs. Am pretty much disgusted with the way people are being treated without insurance ,scrimping and scrapein by, not testing blood glucose levels because the strips cost to much , stretching medications because they cost to much but can't get them for free because my other half has an income of $1800 a month after taxes. I feel like the world is going crazy and someone pulled a rug from under my feet....so I guess I just submit and resign.....because after searches and trying to get help am still nowhere .I know I am not the only person out there who has experienced or is experiencing this. Any reply is appreciated

[seacomp]

I wish I could say something positive, but I've afraid that there is little positive to say when you don't have health insurance in America and you have a medical problem. There is some level of help if you are destitute, but if you are not but don't have coverage, you are in a bad place.
Perhaps you're best bet is disability. At least until things change, but don't hold your breath.
Best of luck and my best wishes.

[Intrigue]

I feel your pain. :) I'm currently a full-time adult student and have no income except my student loan/grants and am having to jump through hoops for assistance. I was diagnosed with diabetes last Monday and the doctor gave me the name of several programs that assist lower income individuals.

Abbott laboratories provides testing supplies only, not insulin. Income limits for a family of two is $40,000 annually I believe. The following URL will give you the URL for the program's application and the company's website:

http://www.needymeds.com/program_list.taf?_function=name&program_id=1047

Partnership for Prescription Assistance assists with medications. You can call them at 1-888-477-2669.

Together Rx Access also assists with meds. Their telephone number is
1-800-444-4106.

Hope this helps!

[Cyborg]

I was going to recommend Partnership for Prescription Assistance also. I'd like to know if anyone has actually gotten any help from them...

[disgusted]

Thank you very much.At this point it does look like I have to wait on disability to come through. I have tried all kinds of options even those programs where the drug companies help with meds.nothing got turned down. I never was one who wanted to have freebies and was honest with them about the income ...well maybe I shoulda lied.

[clee]

I was going to recommend Partnership for Prescription Assistance also. I'd like to know if anyone has actually gotten any help from them...

Yes. I have gotten help for my mother. You must fill out the papterwork but it is worth it. You will see a list of meds they offer too. The cost was much, much lower, because, depending on your income, some of them are free. Oh...her doctor had to fill out a portion of the paperwork and write the prescripton and then the doctor's office would mail it in for her after their portion of the paperwork was done.

Also, ask your doctor for samples of your meds because sometimes they can accomodate in this manner also.

clee

[kgm0612]

I just read in a current issues of one of my diabetes magazines last night that PBS is running a special regarding the health care crisis in America starting in October. Each segment will be an hour long and run for 4 weeks....I believe it said Oct 5, 12, 19 & 26. One of the episodes will deal with Diabetes and it's cost.

Karen

[Cyborg]

Also, ask your doctor for samples of your meds because sometimes they can accomodate in this manner also.

That's a great idea. My endo usually loads me up everytime I leave. Last time they gave me insulin, Symlin and a whole box of Cozzar. Very cool...

[gettingby]

Hi disgusted. I'm sorry that you are having so many problems. I'll try to help you find some help if I can. Just PM me and I'll do some research for you. Just let me know where you live and I'll do what I can.:)

[TenderVittleS]

Yeah that's crazy, our government can support a alcoholic non working parent of like 6 kids, but give a diabetic help, yeah right, Welcome to America! I'm moving to Switzerland now!

[disgusted]

That's a great idea. My endo usually loads me up everytime I leave. Last time they gave me insulin, Symlin and a whole box of Cozzar. Very cool...
Hi Cyborg just wanted to thank you for reply and advice . Unfortunately where I have to go to get medical treatment they dont give samples.Am checking out all the other new options that were given to me by so many people here and see what becomes of it.
Have a great day and keep on:rock:

[ladytaz]

I too, do not have any insurance, nor regular, steady income for that matter, and cannot work, due to other health issues, and it is rough on the finances indeed!!

I found this place RX Outreach http://www.rxoutreach.com

You do have to pay some, and they don't have EVERY med out there, they only dispense generics, but hey, for $20 (per perscription) you get a 3 month supply of their Teir 1 drugs ($30 for Tier 2 drugs) no matter how many pills you take a day!

All they ask for is a 3 month prescription for each of the med(s) you are ordering, your name, address, phone, social security number, how much you make (NO having to send in your tax returns), and your docs name and phone number! Their income level requirements are VERY fair!!! I think they ask how many people live in your household, if they do ask that, they don't ask ANY information about them!

The form is right there, just download and print it, fill it out and send with a check or money order for the total ammount of your order! Easy as that! Took about 2 weeks I think, for the first one to come to my mail box!

For a 3 month supply of my Metformin 1000mg and my Glipizide 10mg it costs me $40! As opposed to one months supply for $75!

For refills (my doc gave me a years worth of refills), about two weeks before you prescription is due to be refilled, you can just call and reorder (if you have a credit/check card) and it is done! You'll recieve your refills in the mail AT YOUR HOME in about a week! I think the longest mine has ever taken is 4 days maybe 5!

They also have other drugs besides diabetes, stuff for heart, blood, anxiety, sleeping disorders, asthma, etc. (drug list is on the site)

Can't beat that, in my opinion! I just wish they did help out with test strips!
Oh well, can't have it all! ;) They've been a tremendous help to me, and I highly reccomend them! As long as your med comes in a generic form, and is on thier "meds list"! Thankfully mine are!

I don't mind paying a little at all! Infact, I feel better having to pay some, than not paying anything at all (makes me feel guilty! LOL)

Good Luck!


First of all hi to everyone am new here . Was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2004. I changed jobs because of health reasons due to that I lost my insurance because I could not afford cobra. Had a what the doctor said stroke and lost my new job due to that . Was told to apply for disability due to several medical probs. Am pretty much disgusted with the way people are being treated without insurance ,scrimping and scrapein by, not testing blood glucose levels because the strips cost to much , stretching medications because they cost to much but can't get them for free because my other half has an income of $1800 a month after taxes. I feel like the world is going crazy and someone pulled a rug from under my feet....so I guess I just submit and resign.....because after searches and trying to get help am still nowhere .I know I am not the only person out there who has experienced or is experiencing this. Any reply is appreciated

[cdplatt]

I don't have any insurance my self. I was put on metformin and glipazide. For 3 month suply at Safeway or Riteaid is a little over $200.00 so I get my meds at costco and a 3 month suply was under $50.00 that was for both drugs and some Ibuprofen.
Also you do not have to have a costco membership to use the pharmacy. I for one will not buy meds any place else.
My problem is paying for the doctor visit and the lab bill at the hospital. This last visit cost about $400.00 and will take me 6 months to pay it off. In the past years I get 3 months of meds and start doing good then dont go back to doctor for a year or so because I cant aford the cost so when I get all blury eyed and feet hurting I go back to doctor and start all over.
Well I guess I am born again so to speak because I am going to stay on meds and go see the doctor in 3 months like they want me to and go broke doing it I guess.
I am looking into SSI now I don't know if I can get it or not.
Is there any one else here that is on disability for just Diabetes ? I have sleep apnea also so maybe that will help.
Any way I hope that costco can help some others here save some $$$

Chuck

[FTW]

Wal-Mart is filling metformin prescriptions for $4. Mine is $9 for the met XR.

Also, you might try the links on this page. (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/healthcare/insurance.jsp)

[Penny]

My daughter is on SSDI. We were using 1/2 of her income to pay for health insurance, until she finally got on Medicaid. This was hard as we had to make up the difference for all her other living expenses. Now she is on a "spenddown" program. Every year she has to pay for some doctor's visits, and a few prescriptions, then everything is paid for. She has to make trips down to the welfare office every few months to prove her financial status, but I don't know how we would get by if we had to keep supporting another adult. Her medications cost more than her total SS check. It was a long and kind of humiliating experience, but it had to be done. There is help, you just have to go looking for it.

[volleyball]

Disgusted, This may sound stupid but what about getting on your spouses medical plan? You do not have to wait until the renewal time as it is a change of status.
If your status is such that you cannot go on there insurance , then your household income would be 0 as if they are not legally responsible for you, then there income doesn't count such as a roommate income is not yours

[MJB]

Obviously I don't know your entire situation so I will ask what you may think is a stupid question.

Are you able to do any kind of work at all? What I'm basically saying is maybe, just maybe, you are still capable of finding a job that will include insurance as part of the package.

I'm not saying this will be easy but it may be a solution for you. Think hard about all your possible options.

I wish you well.

[WoNdErFuL MoMmY]

what kind of glucometer do u have? and how much insulin (humalog if u use that) a month.

Im asking because i have so many different supplies for a few glucometers and pay only $20.00 a month for 5 bttles of humalog at a time on one prescription, i also have a few glucometers as well, one is a bd one that needs a battery, the other is a accucheck complete?

if u do need some supplies i would be glad to send u them just let me know like i said i pick those bttles up every few months not every month but i could every month just dont need 5 in a month?