How Can I Obtain Financial Help for Diabetes Treatment?

How Can I Obtain Financial Help for Diabetes Treatment?

There can be no mistake that diabetes treatment can be very costly. In fact it has been suggested that people who have diabetics tend to spend approximately $13,243 dollars per year on their health care supplies and doctors fees.

When looking at these figures you can see why patients who have diabetes find it very difficult to pay for their diabetes treatment.  There are however a variety of different programs sponsored in part by the federal government as well as many non profit organizations that can help you as well.

Medicare is a federal government program which provides health care services for people who have turned 65 years of age or older. Any person who has become disabled can apply for the Medicare program and there is even a limited coverage program readily available to anyone regardless of age in the event of kidney failure. You can visit your local social security office to see if  you are eligible diabetes treatment under any of these programs.

Medicare currently includes coverage which applies to glucose monitors, lancets and test strips as well as for any necessary medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes or any kind of kidney disease. To qualify you must be referred to the program by a doctor. In addition you will find that you will be covered for any diabetes self-management training, glaucoma screening, therapeutic shoes and flu shots.

Another excellent program that is sponsored by the various states is the Medicaid program. This program is based principally upon your income level and financial needs. To qualify your income must be below a specific level. If you want to find out more about this program you can obtain additional information from any state social worker or by visiting your local human services department.

Obtaining health insurance after you have been diagnosed with diabetes can be very difficult. Generally it would be considered a pre-existing condition and not covered by your policy. There are a few insurance companies that would cover it after a set waiting period has past.

The federal government has enacted legislation to protect individuals who have diabetes by an act which requires the insurance company to cover any of your diabetes education and supplies. This federal law is known as the Health Insurance Portability Act, and has been in existence since 1996. Your state insurance regulatory agency can provide you with additional information on these laws should you be interested.

If you are covered through an HMO program, you will find that they limit their costs by imposing restraints on which doctors you may see for your diabetes treatment. This is how they keep all their costs low.

Searching and checking around with your doctor and various community organizations may provide you with additional resources to help with your diabetes expenses.

For more information bout diabetes treatment visit our previous post.