[mell1682]

I'm about to lose my health care coverage next month...does anyone have any experience with prescription assistance from drug companies? I'm scared because it's really hard for my husband and I to get any health insurance because not only am I a diabetic but he has a long history of severe asthma and other lung problems. I have some apps for these programs being sent to me but how long do I have to wait to get the insulin and test strips? How long will they help me? I'm looking at possibly quitting school and getting a full time job to pay for this illness but I'm scared cuz I don't know how I can do it with 2 little girls and bills to pay and the possibility of having no insurance and the scare of doing it without having a "safety net" to fall on in emergencies and doctor's appointments...I just don't know if I can do it.

[drummingfool]

YES! I do. I did it for years, getting free insulin from drug companies. Although mine was novolog and Lantus, I've done research, and hopefully this will help.

Form for assistance getting Humalog:
lillycares.com/pdf/lilly_cares_application.pdf

Form for assistance getting Lantus:
seniormag.com/free-medication/applications/aventis3.pdf

Print out these sheets and take them to your doc, endo, whatever and have them fill out their part. Then get in contact with these companies over the phone to see what else they need... usually some kind of proof of income, e.g. 2 - 3 paystubs. Mail in everything they ask for ASAP.

As far as syringes, swabs, pen needles, theyre all relatively cheap. Around $20.00 or so. As far as how long it takes to get the stuff, usually about a month or so if everything goes smoothly.

I went through a medical clinic called Agape House here in Texas that would let you see a doctor, get a prescription for a month and get 3 months worth of meds 30 days later, so I was always covered, and they provided it for free. There may be something like this in your area. Try calling 211, they can usually give you some kind of help. Another great place to look is here on the forums... alot of great people have stockpiles of meds and will send you some. This forum will always be one of your best resources.

As someone who has NEVER had health insurance, trust me. It is possible. The trick is to stay strong, even when things go awry. This last month I wasnt able to get my meds, but I was still able to get what I needed through other means. Keep strong, and were all here to support you.

[mell1682]

Originally Posted by drummingfool

YES! I do. I did it for years, getting free insulin from drug companies. Although mine was novolog and Lantus, I've done research, and hopefully this will help.

Form for assistance getting Humalog:
lillycares.com/pdf/lilly_cares_application.pdf

Form for assistance getting Lantus:
seniormag.com/free-medication/applications/aventis3.pdf

Print out these sheets and take them to your doc, endo, whatever and have them fill out their part. Then get in contact with these companies over the phone to see what else they need... usually some kind of proof of income, e.g. 2 - 3 paystubs. Mail in everything they ask for ASAP.

As far as syringes, swabs, pen needles, theyre all relatively cheap. Around $20.00 or so. As far as how long it takes to get the stuff, usually about a month or so if everything goes smoothly.

I went through a medical clinic called Agape House here in Texas that would let you see a doctor, get a prescription for a month and get 3 months worth of meds 30 days later, so I was always covered, and they provided it for free. There may be something like this in your area. Try calling 211, they can usually give you some kind of help. Another great place to look is here on the forums... alot of great people have stockpiles of meds and will send you some. This forum will always be one of your best resources.

As someone who has NEVER had health insurance, trust me. It is possible. The trick is to stay strong, even when things go awry. This last month I wasnt able to get my meds, but I was still able to get what I needed through other means. Keep strong, and were all here to support you.

Thank you so much for your support!! I'm terrified and I am scared I am going to be taken from my daughters before I'm ready to and before I get to see them grow up. A feeling I'm sure you're familiar with, having a little one Thank you for researching that stuff for me!! That seriously just saved me at least a week of a wait! This month and the last few have been hard, I miscarried in September and have been on a roller coaster of emotions and I was scared to have my A1C checked and I was actually shocked to find out yesterday that I dropped from 9.5 to 6.6. I want to keep up this...I feel so good these days! Again thanks a million!

[Funnygrl]

Barely counts, but I had insurance and wanted to get Gardasil. My insurance would only pay for vaccines for people <18 yrs old and I was 20. I wrote Merck, the people that make Gardasil, and explained the situation. They agreed to pay for the Gardasil for me without much of an issue.

[drummingfool]

Having your numbers in control is one of the best feelings there is as a diabetic. It lets you know that you are able and capable of doing good for yourself and your body.

Yea, the thoughts have crossed my mind of not being around as long as I would want for my little girl. Her and my wife are the two main reasons I continue to take care of myself the way I do now... it wasnt always this way. My daughter turned 5 today... they grow up WAY too fast.

I also understand the miscarriage as much as a man can, my wife miscarried about a year ago and it was very tough for us.

The moral of all this is that there are ALWAYS ways to get what you need. When you call for doctors visits, see which ones will help thise without insurance. When I went to see and endo, I informed him I had no insurance and he gave me free meds, along with the visit, an A1C and a BMP for my kidneys all for under 100 dollars. I really hope you can get all that insulin quickly.

Thats the other thing I forgot to mention... if you find or have a good endo, its almost a guarantee that youll get some free meds while youre there. Dont be ashamed to ask, my endo gave me 2.5 months of free Lantus during my last visit. Theyre there to help people like you and me.

And if you want seomeone to talk to whos been in (almost) your shoes before, feel free to PM me. Hope I can help.

[hodgsonsurvivor]

When I knew my insurance was going to end, I refilled as many of my prescriptions as I could. Most jobs now a days don't start your healthcare benefits for 90 days. We all know how long that can be when you need insulin or test strips (can't figure out why those are so expensive). In any case, 1 box of Novolog pens usually lasts me 4-5 weeks and since I was able to fill them every 21 days, I had 3 boxes before the last day of my coverage. The same with the Lantus. I still haven't had to fill a prescription and my coverage ended July 31st! Planning...it's all in the planning. Hopefully, it'll help until your next step kicks in.

[nicole]

I was getting booted from my parents insurance since I wasn't in school at the time and I filled out an application for Medicare, but I was denied.

You have to apply 3-4 times before they'll accept you here.