You need to take diabetes medication or insulin shots every day in order to help maintain a healthy blood glucose level, but you don't have health insurance. The medications, insulin, syringes and test strips are all expensive, and you don't know how you are going to get the medication and supplies you need so you can stay healthy. Several pharmaceutical companies have joined forces to help diabetic patients get the medications and supplies they need.
"Rx" means a prescription for a medication or a medical appliance, according to the Your Dictionary website.
Step 1
Speak to your physician and let him or her know you are not able to afford your diabetes prescriptions, whether you take oral medication or insulin injections. Let the doctor know the test strips are expensive. Ask the doctor if he or she can help you find a program that either provides your medications for free or at a reduced cost.
Step 2
Fill out the form your doctor gives you. This patient assistance program form asks you for information about your current income and whether you have any form of health insurance such as Medicaid, Medicare or employer-provided health coverage. Provide your income from your most recent tax return.
Step 3
Return your patient assistance program application to your doctor. He or she has to fill out a portion that details your diabetes and the prescriptions you use. The doctor attaches a prescription form so the patient-assistance program has the authorization from the doctor to begin sending your prescriptions to you.
Step 4
Look for a prescription savings card to be sent to you via the mail, if it is determined that you are able to pay for a portion of the costs of your diabetes prescriptions. When you get this card, pick up your prescriptions from your doctor, present them and your savings card at the pharmacy and pay the portion you are responsible for. If the patient assistance program determines that you can afford to pay for a small portion of your prescriptions, the pharmacy will charge you for the portion that the assistance program does not pay.
Step 5
Ask your doctor to prescribe generic diabetes medications rather than the brand name medications, if the generic medication will effectively control your symptoms. The generic medication costs less, impacting your wallet less. Buy a store-brand blood glucose meter. Ask your doctor if you are healthy enough to test your blood glucose less often. You will use fewer test strips this way, says the Dialog website.
Tips and Warnings
- You can also buy your prescription medications at Wal-Mart or Walgreens. A 30-day supply costs you $3 and a 90-day supply costs $10 at Wal-Mart. Walgreens has a similar pricing program in place. The patient assistance program is good for one year. Before your current assistance plan expires, pick up a new application from your doctor if you still need prescription assistance for your diabetes medications so you can send it in before your current plan expires.
- As you fill your application out, be truthful. Because you have to report your income from your most recent tax return, the pharmaceutical company can verify your information. Don't cut down on your use of your prescriptions or blood glucose testing if your diabetes is not well-controlled.
Things You'll Need
- Proof of income
- Doctor's prescription
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