Insurance

[TroyS]

Is there anyone here who does not have insurance, or got insurance after being diagnosed? If you do not have ins. How does one afford all of the meds and supplies?

[sugardumplin]

I have insurance. Last year, my strips were 100 for $20.00. This year now that they know I have diabetes, it is $50.00 for 100 strips. I know this might be cheap to some of you but it is expensive to me. I find myself testing less just to save strips. And, I have tried to get Life Insurance since my diagnosis and cannot get on through my company. I don't know how I would get supplies if I didnt have insurance. Honestly, I think I would ignore my diagnosis. :(

[susique333]

Hello Troy, My kids have insurance thru their dad (my ex). My husband is a vet and he gets his coverage thru the VA. Im the only one not covered and its kind of a make do situation. I buy my glucose strips off eBay for a greatly reduced price. I was fortunate enough to get 600 strips for $80 a few weeks ago, thats 1/2 a year for me! I pay for the Dr.s visit of course, but if she prescribes me medication we check to see if its on the list of $4.00 medications offered at my pharmacy. Ive tried every medical insurance out there and Im priced completely out of their plans ($450+) per month which is impossible. The only way to gain insurance is to find employment with a company that provides good insurance but with a failed artificial knee, diabetes and heart problems you kinda get the picture. I did find out that if something catastrophic happened, I can apply to Medicaid and they will implement a "step down" program, meaning depending on our income THAT MONTH they would pay all or a portion of the bill.

[Harold]

States usually have some kind of program offering insurence for those that have trouble affording or uninsurable otherwise. You might also check the Resource Directory. The link is on the right side of the page.

[TroyS]

I currently do not have ins. and it is getting tougher each month tring to afford the testing strips and supplies. Luckily I get my lantus for free from my GP, but with hospital bills and Dr. bills plus supplies it seems like the bills never lessen just keep getting bigger.

[TroyS]

i have tried to get on a program and all of them say that I make to much money and I beg to differ. they say that if you make more than $19,000 that you can not qualify.

[lilituc]

Here's a list of available programs in your state:
Illinois - Health Insurance - American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/insurance/illinois.jsp)

It looks like Illinois has a high risk pool, so you may be eligible for that.

[TroyS]

Thanks for the help!

[susique333]

States usually have some kind of program offering insurence for those that have trouble affording or uninsurable otherwise. You might also check the Resource Directory. The link is on the right side of the page.

They go by income, plain and simple. 6 kids and 2 adults and our income is way above the poverty guideline. We say we have trouble paying $450 a month premium , they only see the bottom line and say "sorry". Cobra only lasts a certain amount of time. Ive searched and searched and Im priced out.

Federal Poverty Guidelines (http://www.needymeds.com/indices/povertyguidelines.tml)

[lilituc]

They go by income, plain and simple. 6 kids and 2 adults and our income is way above the poverty guideline. We say we have trouble paying $450 a month premium , they only see the bottom line and say "sorry". Cobra only lasts a certain amount of time. Ive searched and searched and Im priced out.

Federal Poverty Guidelines (http://www.needymeds.com/indices/povertyguidelines.tml)

Looks like Nebraska has a high risk pool, too, if you're interested:
Nebraska - Health Insurance - American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/insurance/nebraska.jsp)

[TrueWorship]

I have no insurance. Here in Canada I can buy a bottle of Humalog for less than $30. I'm gonna start buying test strips from ebay because I looked yesterday and they're way cheaper. My pump supplies go on a credit card so I can pay it off a little at a time. I also buy the cheapest infusion sets which right now are the Sure-T's. It is difficult but it's cheaper to buy insulin at least in Canada. However I still have an American prescription for my pump supplies and buy them from the US site because they're cheaper than from the Canadian site. If anybody else has any ideas on how to save money, I'd be interested too.

Jenn

[susique333]

Looks like Nebraska has a high risk pool, too, if you're interested:
Nebraska - Health Insurance - American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/insurance/nebraska.jsp)

This is the Cobra plan, it floats you if youre recently without insurance. Ive been W/O insurance 2 years now. This quote is taken from the high risk site you sent. "If you currently have health insurance or have just lost health insurance coverage within the past 60 days"

[Alice]

I've always been covered by various employer group plans through such large companies as Aetna, BlueCross...I feel the major insurance companies are more knowledgeable and through a group policy, a single diabetic isn't going to shake the balance.

Small employers tend to have less negotiation power.

I've changed companies about 7 times since college...all were large companies. Maybe I took that for granted.

I'm currently covered by my husbands very good Aetna insurance. My costs on insulin, pens, couple of pills...is about $500 out-of-pocket....would retail for over $5,000 last time I checked...I do order a bit more than I use...hurricane insurance, I call it...

[JediSkipdogg]

I have no insurance. Here in Canada I can buy a bottle of Humalog for less than $30. I'm gonna start buying test strips from ebay because I looked yesterday and they're way cheaper. My pump supplies go on a credit card so I can pay it off a little at a time. I also buy the cheapest infusion sets which right now are the Sure-T's. It is difficult but it's cheaper to buy insulin at least in Canada. However I still have an American prescription for my pump supplies and buy them from the US site because they're cheaper than from the Canadian site. If anybody else has any ideas on how to save money, I'd be interested too.

Jenn

I thought all canadians had national health insurance? Tell me it's not true that there are uninsured up there?

[novorapid]

I thought all canadians had national health insurance? Tell me it's not true that there are uninsured up there?
yes we have national insursance meaning we do not pay to see a doctor, but we still pay for our medications. there are also exemptions to this if you are on welfare you pay very little, if you do not have an insurance plan at your work provincial medicare will cover most of your medications you pay very little but you do not get the best drug available for your illness through the provincial medicare

[Kubilee]

i have tried to get on a program and all of them say that I make to much money and I beg to differ. they say that if you make more than $19,000 that you can not qualify.

I am having the exact same problem here. I had some medical help for almost a year and then I found out about Diabetes, and exactly one month later I was given less than 30 days notice I was going to be losing that even, and it was State help. NOW, I can't seem to get any help at all. I have done everything I can and can't get it. I have 7 people in my house and my income is the only one, my husband can't work, but yet they tell me I can't get any help because I make too much money...... and insurance for me would cost almost $1200 a month for me and my family, but I wouldn't be able to get help with my Diabetes related issues for one full year after getting and keeping the insurance policy... so why bother? Why should I pay that much money and then my Diabetes Supplies on TOP of all that? Especially when I can't afford either.

And I am like others, I am finding myself not testing near like I should, sometimes only once every 2-3 days, to help save on them.....

It's all a nasty circle, and not a fun one. :(

[TrueWorship]

I thought all canadians had national health insurance? Tell me it's not true that there are uninsured up there?

Canadians do have national health care. I however am not Canadian. I am American and currently staying in Canada on a visitor pass while waiting for my visa/immigration paperwork to be filed and go through. So currently I have no American insurance and am not covered by Canadian insurance. Sorry for that misunderstanding. I should have explained that better. LOL

Jenn

[Cyborg]

There are programs that provide prescription assistance, such as The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php).

I dread ever losing insurance. If I have to do it and I can afford it, I'll pay for Cobra (http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html) rather than lose insurance...

[lilituc]

This is the Cobra plan, it floats you if youre recently without insurance. Ive been W/O insurance 2 years now. This quote is taken from the high risk site you sent. "If you currently have health insurance or have just lost health insurance coverage within the past 60 days"

I'm not sure what you mean. Here are the eligibility requirements for the high risk pool:
How Do I Know if I'm Eligible? (http://www.nechip.com/eligibility.aspx)
All you have to do is apply to get an individual plan from a Nebraska insurer and get denied. However, the pre-existing condition clause would apply for six months because you didn't have continuous coverage.

[TroyS]

The high risk poll will not work for me in Nebraska since I am from Illinois but thanks.

[susique333]

I'm not sure what you mean. Here are the eligibility requirements for the high risk pool:
How Do I Know if I'm Eligible? (http://www.nechip.com/eligibility.aspx)
All you have to do is apply to get an individual plan from a Nebraska insurer and get denied. However, the pre-existing condition clause would apply for six months because you didn't have continuous coverage.

This is what I found out about High Risk Pools here in Nebraska. Not too promising. Especially the part about how it is usually higher than private health insurance. Also Ive never been denied coverage, they ask if Im diabetic & Im given a premium quote triple that of a non-diabetic. Not denied, price out of their plan.

If you are denied health insurance - State high risk pool
Advantages of getting into a state run insurance plan include:
Usually can't be turned down
Helps you pay for large medical cost

Disadvantages:
Have to prove state residency to enroll

How proof that you have been rejected for similar health insurance coverage to enroll

Can not have enrolled in a high risk pool with the last 132 months

The state can end the plan - legislative risk

Very long waiting lists

Usually much higher than private health insurance

Have to prove your current policy is rated to enroll

You can lose eligibility if you move

You don't qualify if are eligible for, or receiving, Medicare or Medicaid

You cannot be incarcerated

Plan only accepts certain numbers of individuals

Rates can increase

There are rigid maximum benefit lifetime benefit ceiling

You may not qualify with certain diseases

[susique333]

Additional information on Nebraska Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool. This is for those who cant get any insurance or due to a medical condition find your premiums too high. But as you see, the premiums are still horrendous.

CHIP applicable premiums. You have a choice of deductible.
$500 deductible= $893 montly premium
$1000 " = $737 per month
$2000 " = $672 per month
$3000 " = $530 per month
$4000 " = $421 per month
$5000 " = $391 per month