Can you afford your diabetes medication?
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, you already know how hard it is to manage it. According to experts, patients typically spend $19,736 on medical expenses per year, of which $12,022 is directly related to the disease. Moreover, the average person with diabetes spends 2.6 times as much on medical expenses as someone healthy.
Diabetic treatment accounted for one out of every seven dollars spent on healthcare in the United States in 2017. The American Diabetes Association said that supplies and drugs accounted for 45% of spending. Luckily, several financial assistance programs can help you afford your diabetes medication, supplies, and gadgets.
You can choose different programs from pharmaceutical firms, pharmacies, the federal government, and nonprofit associations. If the expense of managing your health issues is tough, we’re here to help you. We’ve talked to different experts about ways to help you afford your diabetes medication, and we’re going to share everything with you. If you’re looking for some great tips, keep reading!
1. Drug and coupon cards
Since the costs of these drugs are pretty high, it’s understandable that you want to reduce them as much as possible. The good news is that you can do that with the help of your insurance. That’s the reason why manufacturers usually offer assistance to people with insurance.
Thanks to coupon cards, you can find it easier to afford your diabetes medication because you’ll have to use less money. You can get your coupon cards from every big manufacturer. Different companies offer patient assistance programs where you can enroll, and we’ll go about all of them in the next few minutes, so keep reading!
2. Pharmaceutical assistance programs
As we’ve already discussed, pharmaceutical assistance programs can help you afford your diabetes medication since many manufacturers of insulin and diabetic drugs have their own proprietary schemes.
These programs are intended for low-income people without health insurance. To apply, you must fulfill a few requirements. If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part D, you can easily apply for some programs, such as:
- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Assistance Program – thanks to this program, you can purchase different medications at a much lower cost;
- Pfizer RxPathways Program – if you need meds manufactured by Pfizer, you can enroll in this program and save some money;
- Sanofi Patient Assistance Program – if your health condition requires you to take Sanofi insulin, you’re lucky, because thanks to this program, you can take it for free;
- Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation – are you a Novartis medication patient? This program is exactly what you need because it will help you afford your diabetes medication;
- Norvo Nordisk Diabetes Patient Assistance Program – Norvo Nordisk insulin anyone? Say no more, because this great program is the perfect tool to get discounted or free insulin.
- Merck Patient Assistance Program – you can get free or inexpensive Merck drugs by simply participating in Merck’s program;
- Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program – another way to help you afford your diabetes medication is to enroll in this program. It can help you get free Eli Lilly insulin.
3. Device assistance programs
Another method to help you afford your diabetes medications is through a device assistance program. If you need help getting supplies like testing strips or equipment such as glucose monitors, these are the problems you can check out:
- Medtronic Patient Assistance – if you use a Medtronic insulin pump, this program might help you get it for less;
- Free Abbott glucose monitors – as you probably know, the Freestyle range of glucose monitors is produced by Abbott. If you enroll in their program, besides receiving a free monitor, you can also get discounts on test strips;
- The CR3 Diabetes Association – if you use an insulin pump from Medtronic, you can get it at a lower cost through this program;
- Benefits Checkup – with the help of this National Council on Aging service, you can get matched with any program and financial assistance that you’re eligible for, including those that provide free or inexpensive supplies.
But that’s not all. Another way to help you afford your diabetes medication is through coupon websites. They’re an excellent resource for finding the best price on your diabetic prescription. You can save a lot of money by signing up for free on these websites.
Coupon websites function in two ways. You can look up your medicines on these platforms. The websites will display the best offer for you and provide you with a coupon that you can use at the pharmacy to receive the discount.
The second method is to register for free discount cards, which you can carry with you to the pharmacy whenever you visit. Some of the most well-known couponing websites are SingleCare, Blink Health, Inside Rx, and GoodRx, so check them out.
4. Mail-order pharmacies
Did you know that mail-order pharmacies can help you afford your diabetes medications? If you fill your prescriptions this way, especially if you order for more than a month at a time, you might be able to receive a wonderful discount.
Using a mail-order pharmacy might result in lower copays if you have insurance. The ease of having your medicines delivered right to your door is another benefit, so definitely check out this one because it can be really helpful.
5. Nonprofit assistance programs
Many programs can help you afford your diabetes medication, and this time we’ll talk about the nonprofit assistance ones. These can help you find affordable drugs and supplies, but before you get what you need, you have to give them information about you, such as what your income is, the place you live, what supplies you need, and what medications your doctor puts you on.
After completing all of these steps, they can match you with methods to get what you need for a lot less or even for free. Some of the most popular nonprofit assistance programs are:
- NeedyMeds – this one has a big database of information and incredible resources for diabetes patients and other health issues. Thanks to their connections and resources, they can help you find ways to afford your diabetes medications and get supplies and the help you need for a lot less;
- Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) – you should definitely check out MAT, because it’s a fantastic tool that can match you with programs to help you afford your diabetes medications. After entering your income, prescription, and insurance, you’ll easily get matched and find all the necessary resources.;
- RxAssist – you can use this nonprofit assistance program to search for any medications you take and get matched with methods to get them at a lower cost or entirely for free.;
- GetInsulin.org – if you need budget-friendly insulin, this is the right program for you. It can easily match you with the right resources to pay for your supplies, as well as help you get insulin in case of an emergency;
- RxHope – if you go to the RxHope website, you can apply for their programs in a few minutes. All you have to do is search for each prescription you take and then look for matching programs to help you get it cheaper or even free.
…Have you ever heard about any of these programs that can help you afford your diabetes medication? What are your thoughts on them?
6. Government assistance
Have you ever heard of Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs? These are state programs that are wonderful for people who don’t have big incomes but need more money to buy their prescriptions.
While not every state offers a program like this, it’s still worth checking. Go on the Medicare website and search for this program in your state. If you decide to enroll, make sure you carefully read the eligibility criteria, because they’re different from one place to another.
7. Community health centers
Did you know that people with low incomes can receive care from community health centers? These clinics offer sliding-scale payment alternatives, so you might get the care you need at a price you can afford.
The good news is that you can get free or inexpensive medicines from the pharmacies or pharmaceuticals that are available at many community health centers. Moreover, they might be able to put you in touch with additional neighborhood and local services so you can afford to take care of your health issues.
8. Pharmacy loyalty programs
If you need more financial resources to help you afford your diabetes medication, go to your local pharmacy and ask if there’s a loyalty program available. They’re typically free to join and could help you get coupons that are exclusive to members. Moreover, if you make regular purchases, you could get discounts.
…If none of these methods on how to help you afford diabetes medication weren’t suitable for you, keep reading, because we have many other things to cover!
9. Consider a generic drug
As you probably know, generic prescriptions are typically more affordable. Generics can cost hundreds of dollars less at the register than name brands, which is amazing for people with low incomes. If you use your insurance, your copay might be significantly less with generic medication.
If you now take any name-brand drugs, make sure you ask your doctor about generic alternatives. Generally speaking, switching to the generic is effective and safe, but it’s better to talk to them.
10. Talk to specialists
A specialist in diabetes education and care is a qualified person who can assist you in managing your treatment. They might be able to assist you in locating affordable medical care and medication assistance in your community.
Moreover, a specialist can also help you improve your diabetes management. With their training and education, they can teach you lifestyle modifications that might reduce your need for prescription drugs. As a result, you could spend a lot less money by simply managing your health issues.
11. What about a 90-day supply of medication?
Another way to help you afford your diabetes medication is to get a bigger supply. A 90-day bundle is more affordable than a 30-day supply. Even though not every prescription is available in a 3-month supply, ask your healthcare provider about it. If it’s right, you can get your medications from a traditional pharmacy or a mail-order one.
…Keep reading to discover other easy methods to help you afford your diabetes medication!
12. Use a combination medication
A combination drug is precisely what it sounds like: two drugs combined into one. This type of prescription serves two purposes, so instead of taking two different medications, you’d only have to take one.
Since you only take one effective prescription instead of two, your expenses would cut down considerably. However, you can’t make this decision on your own because you need a doctor’s opinion and expertise on such an important matter. So make sure you schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and ask them if there’s any chance you could get a combination drug that is just as effective.
…Which one of these tips do you think is the most useful? Would you try enrolling in any of these programs? Let’s chat in the comments below!
13. Check if you can get samples
Did you know that sometimes doctors have prescription samples? This usually happens when you go to the dentist, and after your appointment, your doctor gives you some tiny tubes of toothpaste. Make sure you ask your doctor about this because it can be useful, even if it won’t last you a long time.
A sample is a fantastic way to still get the drugs you need while awaiting clearance from a program that was previously covered in this list.
14. Check your insurance company formulary
A formula is a useful list of drugs that an insurance company will cover. According to experts, it’s always a smart idea to check the prescription you take against the formulary for your insurance company.
If you take particular medications that aren’t mentioned in the formulary, make sure you talk to a healthcare professional. They might help you afford your diabetes medications by switching you to drugs that are on the formulary.
15. Ask for extra help
Another way to help you afford your diabetes medication is to simply ask for help. Yes, you’ve read that right. If you have Medicare and are enrolled in a smart Medicare Part D plan, you might be lucky. Do your research, because you might be able to get extra help paying for the necessary drugs.
As you probably know, Medicare Extra Help is a fantastic program that reduces costs for low-income people who are enrolled in Medicare. Go to the Social Security Administration website, read the terms and conditions for eligibility, and apply for the program.
The bottom line
Unfortunately, managing a health condition isn’t exactly cheap, especially if we’re talking about diabetes. Devices, prescriptions, and supplies make up a big part of these costs, and they can be hard to face, especially if you’re a low-income senior.
Luckily, there are several programs available for you to afford your diabetes medication, as you’ve read in this article. With that being said, if you have a hard time paying for your meds, you can always ask for help and check out other options.
Don’t forget to talk to your healthcare provider about all of these issues and apply to one of these programs that fits your needs.
What about lifestyle choices?
Even though this isn’t exactly a method to help you afford your diabetes medication, if you want to improve your health, you should also pay attention to your lifestyle. According to doctors, having an active lifestyle where you move your body and eat nutritious and healthy foods can do wonders for your body. So, to keep your health issues under control, make sure you exercise and fuel your body with all the right things.
What do you think about these methods to help you afford your diabetes medication? Do you know any other ways that can help diabetes patients get their much-needed prescriptions? Let us know in the comments below, because it’s a conversation that can help several patients.
Are you a diabetes patient? How do you keep it under control? If you suffer from diabetes and want to learn more about this health issue, here’s a good book for you.
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