Financial Help for Diabetes Care

Medicare is usually for people over 65 years old. People who are disabled or have become disabled also can apply for Medicare, and there is limited coverage for people of all ages with kidney failure. To learn if you can get Medicare, and for details about what is covered, check with your local Social Security office or call the Medicare Hotline at (800) 638-6833. The Medicare Hotline will also tell you about special programs to help people with limited incomes.

Medicaid helps people who are under 65 with their medical needs. To qualify, you must meet the financial and other requirements of your State. What is covered also varies from State to State. Apply for help at your local or State health and public assistance office.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves veterans who have service-related health problems or who need financial help. If you are a veteran and have questions about whether you can get VA health care, call (800) 827-1000. The operator will connect you with a regional VA information center.

Most county or city governments have public health departments that offer help to people who need medical care. Call your local government office to get more information.

In many communities, some private, not-for-profit groups with an interest in diabetes offer financial support to people who qualify based on their medical needs. If you have a medical need that a government agency is unable to fill, these agencies may be able to help. Your local library is a good source to learn about these groups.

Finally, be honest with your health care providers. Tell them if you are unable to pay for food, medicines, or diabetes supplies. Ask them if they know where you can get help. Your health care providers may be able to tell you about programs set up by diabetes supply companies or by your county or city.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse collects resource information on diabetes for Combined Health Information Database (CHID). CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources.

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Reprinted with permission from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

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