Financial Help for Diabetes treatment

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Financial Help for Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes treatment is expensive. According to the American Diabetes

Association, people who have this disease spend an average of $13,243 a

year on health care expenses.

Many people who have diabetes need help paying some of the bills. It's a

good idea to start by looking for an insurance plan that covers as many

diabetes-related expenses as possible. A variety of governmental and

nongovernmental programs exist to help, depending on whether you qualify.

Medicare

Medicare is a Government program providing health care services for

people who are 65 years and older. People who are disabled or have become

disabled also can apply for Medicare, and limited coverage is available

for people of all ages with kidney failure. To learn if you're eligible,

check with your local Social Security office or call the Medicare Hotline

listed below. Medicare now includes coverage for glucose monitors, test

strips, and lancets. For more information about Medicare benefits, read

the online brochure The Power to Control Diabetes Is in Your Hands from

the National Diabetes Education Program or contact

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

7500 Security Boulevard

Baltimore, MD 21244-1850

Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE or (633-4227)

Internet: www.medicare.gov

Medicaid

Medicaid is a state health assistance program for people based on

financial need. Your income must be below a certain level to qualify for

Medicaid funds. To apply, talk with a social worker or contact your local

department of human services. Check the government pages of your phone

book.

State Children's Health Insurance Program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established the

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to help children

without health insurance. SCHIP provides health coverage for children

whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to

afford private health insurance. Consumers can obtain information about

the program by calling toll-free 1-877-KIDS-NOW (543-7669), or by

checking www.insurekidsnow.gov.

Health Insurance

Because health insurance is meant to cover unexpected future illnesses,

diabetes that has already been diagnosed presents a problem. It is

considered a " preexisting condition, " so finding coverage may be

difficult. Many insurance companies have a specific waiting period during

which they do not cover diabetes-related expenses for new enrollees,

although they will cover other medical expenses that arise during this

time.

Recent state and Federal laws, however, may help. Many states now require

insurance companies to cover diabetes supplies and education. The Health

Insurance Portability Act, passed by Congress in 1996, limits insurance

companies from denying coverage because of a preexisting condition. To

find out more about these laws, contact your state insurance regulatory

office. This office can also help you find an insurance company that

offers individual coverage.

Managed Care

Most HMOs keep costs down by limiting the choice of doctors to those who

belong to the network, restricting access to specialists, reducing

hospital stays, and emphasizing preventive care. In most managed care

plans, especially Medicare HMOs, you select a primary care physician who

will be responsible for directing your care and referring you to

specialists when he or she feels it's necessary. Some plans also cover

extra benefits like prescription drugs.

For more information on managed care organizations, particularly the

quality of care offered to patients, you may want to contact the National

Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) at 1- or see

www.ncqa.org on the Internet.

Medicare also has many publications to help you learn more about managed

care. Go to www.medicare.gov on the Internet or call 1-800-MEDICARE

(633-4227) for more information.

Health Insurance After Leaving a Job

If you lose your health coverage when you leave your job, you may be able

to buy " group coverage " for up to 18 months under a Federal law called

the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act or COBRA. Buying group

coverage is cheaper than going out alone to buy individual coverage. If

you have a disability, you can extend COBRA coverage for up to 29 months.

COBRA may also cover young people who were insured under a parent's

policy but have reached the age limit and are trying to obtain their own

insurance.

The Department of Labor has published several helpful booklets on COBRA.

To request these booklets, write to

Publications Desk

PWBA, Division of Public Affairs

Room N-5656

200 Constitution Avenue NW.

Washington, DC 20210

Internet: www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

If you don't qualify for coverage or if your COBRA coverage has expired,

you can still seek other options:

Some states require employers to offer conversion policies, in which you

stay with your insurance company but buy individual coverage.

Some professional or alumni organizations offer group coverage for

members.

Your state may be one of 29 with a high-risk pool for people unable to

get coverage.

Some insurance companies also offer stopgap policies designed for people

who are between jobs.

Contact your state insurance regulatory office for more information on

these and other options. Information on consumer health plans is also

available at the U.S. Department of Labor's website at

www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/consumerinfhealth.htm.

Health Care Services

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and

Services Administration, offers health care for people regardless of

their insurance status or ability to pay. To find local health centers,

call 1- and ask for a directory, or visit the bureau's

website at www.bphc.hrsa.gov on the Internet.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs hospitals and clinics that

serve veterans who have service-related health problems or who simply

need financial aid. If you're a veteran and would like to find out more

about VA health care, call 1- or visit their website at

www.va.gov.

Many local governments have public health departments that can help

people who need medical care. Your local county or city government's

health and human services office can provide further information.

Hospital Care

If you're uninsured and need hospital care, you may be able to get help.

In 1946, Congress passed the Hospital Survey and Construction Act, which

was sponsored by Senators Lister Hill and Harold Burton and is now known

as the Hill-Burton Act. Although the program originally provided

hospitals with Federal grants for modernization, today it provides free

or reduced-charge medical services to low-income people. The program is

administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. For more

information, call 1- or visit www.hrsa.gov/osp/dfcr on the

Internet.

Dialysis and Transplantation

Kidney failure is a complication of diabetes. In 1972, Congress passed

legislation making people of any age with permanent kidney failure

eligible for Medicare. To qualify for Medicare on the basis of kidney

failure, you must need regular dialysis or have had a kidney transplant,

and you must have worked under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement

Board, or as a Government employee (or be the child or spouse of someone

who has), or you must already be receiving Social Security or Railroad

Retirement benefits. Every American needing dialysis for chronic kidney

failure is eligible for dialysis assistance. For more information, call

the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227)

to request the booklet Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney

Transplant Services.*

For information on financing an organ transplant, contact the following

organization:

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

1100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500

P.O. Box 13770

Richmond, VA 23225-8770

Phone: 1-

Internet: www.transplantliving.org

*This file is in PDF format, which requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader

for viewing.

Attention visually impaired visitors: To use common screen reading

programs with PDF documents, please visit access.adobe.com, which

provides a set of free tools that convert PDF documents to simple HTML or

ASCII text.

Prescription Drugs and Medical Supplies

If you can't pay for your medicines and supplies without help, you should

tell your health care provider. Your doctor may be able to direct you to

local programs or even provide free samples.

You or your doctor can order a free filament to check feet for nerve

damage. The filament (with instructions for use) is available by calling

the Bureau of Primary Health Care's (BPHC's) Lower Extremity Amputation

Prevention Program (LEAP) at 1-888-ASK-HRSA (275-4772) or by accessing

www.bphc.hrsa.gov/leap on the Internet.

The Medicare program offers a searchable database of prescription drug

assistance programs at www.medicare.gov/Prescription/Home.asp. This

website gives information on public and private programs offering

discounted or free medication. You can also learn about Medicare health

plans with prescription coverage.

In addition, drug companies that sell insulin or diabetes medications

usually have patient assistance programs. Such programs are available

only through a physician. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers

of America and its member companies sponsor an interactive website with

information on drug assistance programs at www.helpingpatients.org.

Also, since programs targeted toward the homeless sometimes provide aid,

try contacting a local shelter for more information on how to obtain free

medications and medical supplies. Check your phone book under " Human

Service Organizations " or " Social Service Organizations " for the number

of the nearest shelter.

Prosthetic Care

If you've had an amputation, paying for your rehabilitation expenses may

be a concern. The following organizations provide financial assistance

for people who need prosthetic care:

Amputee Coalition of America

900 East Hill Avenue, Suite 285

Knoxville, TN 37915-2568

Phone: 1-888-AMP-KNOW (267-5669)

Internet: www.amputee-coalition.org

Easter Seals

230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800

Chicago, IL 60606

Phone: 1-

Fax:

Internet: www.easter-seals.org

Prosthetics for Diabetics Foundation

323 Way

Monroe, GA 30655

Phone:

Fax:

Internet: www.expage.com/page/pfdfoundation

Classroom Services

Public agencies that provide assistance to children with diabetes and

other disabilities and to their families are listed on the State Resource

Sheets published by the National Information Center for Children and

Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY). These free resource sheets, which list

the names and addresses of agencies in your state, are available by

writing to

NICHCY

P.O. Box 1492

Washington, DC 20013

Internet: www.nichcy.org

College-age students who have diabetes-related disabilities may be faced

not only with the costs of tuition, but also with additional expenses

generally not incurred by other students. These costs may include special

equipment and disability-related medical expenses not covered by

insurance. Some special equipment and support services may be available

at the institution, through community organizations, through the state

vocational rehabilitation agency, or through specific disability

organizations. The names and addresses of these and other agencies are

also listed in the State Resource Sheets.

You can apply for financial aid at the financial aid office of the

institution you plan to attend. A free copy of the booklet Funding Your

Education is available from the U.S. Department of Education by writing

to

Federal Student Aid Programs

P.O. Box 84

Washington, DC 20044-0084

Phone: 1-

Internet: http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/FYE/index.html

The HEATH Resource Center (National Clearinghouse on Postsecondary

Education for Individuals with Disabilities) offers information on

sources of financial aid and the education of students with a disability.

Write to

The Washington University

HEATH Resource Center

2121 K Street NW., Suite 220

Washington, DC 20037

Internet: www.heath.gwu.edu

Information on grants that are available to individuals for financing

higher education is available at the following nonprofit organization's

library:

The Foundation Center

79 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10003

Phone:

Fax:

Internet: www.fdncenter.org

Technological Assistance

Assistive technology, which can help people with disabilities function

more effectively at home, at work, and in the community, can include

computers, adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, bathroom modifications, and

medical or corrective services. The following organizations provide

information, awareness, and training in the use of technology to aid

people with disabilities:

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)

2175 East Francisco Boulevard, Suite L

San , CA 94901

Phone: 1- or

Email: atainfo@...

Internet: www.ataccess.org

Assistive Technology Funding and Systems Change Project

United Cerebral Palsy

1660 L Street NW., Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

Phone: 1-, ext. 7144, or

Fax:

Email: webmaster@...

Internet: www.ucp.org

Food and Nutrition

Food, nutrition education, and access to health care services are also

available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's WIC (Women,

Infants, and Children) program. Pregnant women who meet residential,

financial need, and nutrition risk criteria are eligible for assistance.

Gestational diabetes is considered a medically based nutrition risk and

would qualify a woman for assistance through the WIC program if she meets

the financial need requirements and has lived in a particular state the

required amount of time. The WIC website provides a page of contact

information for each state and Indian tribe, or you can contact the

national headquarters at the following address:

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Public Information Staff

3101 Park Center Drive, Room 819

andria, VA 22302

Phone:

Internet: www.fns.usda.gov/wic

Local Resources

Finally, for help in financing some of the many expenses related to

diabetes, you may also want to seek out available local resources, such

as the following charitable groups:

Lions Clubs International, which can help with vision care

Rotary Clubs, which provide humanitarian and educational assistance

Elks Clubs, which provide charitable activities that benefit youth and

veterans

Shriners, which offer need-based treatment for children at Shriners

hospitals throughout the country

Kiwanis Clubs, which conduct fund-raising events and projects to help the

community and especially children

religious organizations

In many areas, nonprofit or special interest groups such as those listed

above can sometimes provide financial assistance or help with

fund-raising. In addition, some local governments may have special trusts

set up to help people in need. You can find out more about such groups at

your local library or your local city or county government's health and

human services office.

Note: This information was accurate as of July 2003. Contact each

organization directly for the most up-to-date information.

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

1 Information Way

Bethesda, MD 20892-3560

Email: ndic@...

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service of

the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

(NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the

clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes

and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. NDIC

answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works

closely with professional and patient organizations and Government

agencies to coordinate resources about diabetes.

Publications produced by the clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both

NIDDK scientists and outside experts.

This e-text is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of

this e-pub to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.

Marilyn

Moderator for

Diabetic_Recipes

dnevessr@...

Opinions expressed are solely

my own and should not be

mistaken for

Professional advice.