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14th February 2007
Free Diabetes Supplies
- information, products & testing supplies 
Whereas in the UK all health care is provided as part of the National Health Service, in the States it has to be
paid for by medical insurance.
According to the Royal Society of Medicine:-
"Compared to patients in England or insured patients in the USA, fewer uninsured individuals were taking
necessary medications which have been shown to decrease complications of diabetes, indicating yet another important
aspect of access to care".
With around 20% of adults in the USA professing a complete lack of health insurance, that means that around that
number will fail to have the proper medical care for their diabetes.
Not surprisingly the conclusion drawn is that individuals in a healthcare system which provides universal access
have better managed diabetes than those in a market based system requiring insurance.
Whereas in the UK all supplies and health care are covered, families newly diagnosed with diabetes in the States
may also have the fear and worry about the cost of medications and supplies such as insulin, meters, and test
strips, as well as health care costs.
For adults, the good news is that forty-six states now have laws requiring health
insurance coverage to include treatment for diabetes. For children, Medicaid is
administered by your State which will have its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services available.
Many drug companies offer pharmaceutical assistance programs to help offset the
cost of supplies or prescription medications for people with diabetes who
have little or no insurance. Check out the JDRF site for further information.
Financial Assistance & Free
Supplies
If you need free diabetic supplies or equipment because
you haven't got any insurance, it might be worth contacting the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association. Their
aim is to provide medical equipment and supplies to those unable to afford the cost. In particular they have
a scheme to provide products such as Minimed pumps to users who can show that they can pay the ongoing costs of
equipment.
It's also worth noting that your doctor may be able to
direct patients with diabetes to local funding or even provide free samples. You'll need to advise him that
you can't pay for your medicines and supplies without help.
Your health care provider should also be able to provide
you with free health information on managing diabetes.
Some funding for pumping supplies is available from the
Diabetes Trust Foundation, check back at http://www.diabetestrustfoundation.org for information.
It may be possible to obtain free
testing supplies if you live in the US, check out the offer conditions to see if you qualify.
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