Tips for Managing Diabetes Without Health Insurance

Not everyone who is diagnosed with diabetes has immediate or equal access to health insurance in the United States. In fact, as of 2022, over 26 million Americans, or 7.9 percent of the population, were without health insurance, despite recent gains in access to care.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act made headway in giving Americans access to health insurance. However, millions of Americans remain without access to health insurance—particularly those with disabilities and chronic conditions like diabetes.

So, what can you do if you find yourself without health insurance and you have diabetes?

If You Have Diabetes, Assess Your Insurance Options

If you have a chronic illness like diabetes, it is crucial to try and get health insurance coverage as soon as possible.

Here are some options for getting covered:

Medicaid

Medicaid has been expanded in 41 states (including the District of Columbia) to date, enabling a working adult to qualify for coverage at up to 138% FPL—or $20,783 annually.

Eligibility varies by state, but Medicaid offers excellent coverage for free or extremely cheap insulin and diabetes supplies.

Applying for coverage and checking your eligibility is quick and easy.

Before opting to go without health insurance completely, see if you qualify for Medicaid first!

Can You Access Health Insurance Through a Family Member?

Under protections offered by the Affordable Care Act, children can stay on their parent’s health insurance until age 26.

Additionally, if your spouse has health insurance, you can enroll in it through their workplace if you’re married. The monthly premiums may be higher, but you can still get the coverage you need and the insulin you require.

Similar to coverage for married couples, employers may provide health insurance to same- or opposite-sex domestic partners. However, state-by-state variations may apply.

Check with your spouse’s employer for eligibility requirements (proof of domestic partnership or marriage, etc.) and the costs associated with coverage.

Marketplace Exchange Plan

Through the Affordable Care Act of 2010, individuals can buy a health-insurance plan on what is called an “exchange.”

These are either run by your state or the federal government.

Click here to compare plans and choose what’s best for you and your budget. Make sure to compare prices to find the best deal.

Some plans have cheaper monthly premiums, but the prices associated with prescription medications and doctor visits are more expensive.

Other plans are more costly every month, but have more affordable options for getting your medications and seeing your doctor.

If you buy a state-regulated health plan, you may be in one of the 25 states (plus DC) that have passed insulin copay cap legislation, limiting the amount of money someone has to pay for their monthly insulin prescription.

Additionally, Colorado and Minnesota have passed laws creating insulin safety-net programs, so that people without insurance can also access affordable insulin in their states.

If You Lose Your Job, You Can Buy COBRA

COBRA stands for The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, and it gives workers (and their families) the right to continue their group health benefits for a limited amount of time after a job loss.

However, COBRA coverage is expensive.

Since you’re no longer an employee at the company, you will now have to pay both the individual portion of the plan and the employer’s portion—plus an administrative fee totaling 102% of the health insurance policy.

To qualify, the employee has to have already been enrolled in their employer’s health insurance plan before losing their job.

COBRA coverage is only offered for a limited amount of time (up to 3 years).

How to Get Diabetes Supplies Without Health Insurance

Health insurance coverage runs monthly, so if you’re laid off from work or lose your coverage the first week of the month, you will still have coverage for the remaining three weeks of that month.

Take advantage of this time by reordering any supplies you’ll need (and try mail-order to get 90-day supplies), scheduling and going to the doctor, or renewing prescriptions that are almost out.

Ask for Samples From Your Doctor’s Office

Suppose you have a relationship with your primary-care physician, endocrinologist, or any other specialist. Ask them for free samples of medications or diabetes supplies they may have to give you.

Pharmaceutical representatives often visit doctor’s offices and give them samples of new medications and technology to try, and doctors can then sometimes give these away to patients to try out.

If you’re running low on supplies or medications, reach out to your doctor to see if they can spare any samples to help you.

Check Out Patient Assistance Programs

Pharmaceutical assistance programs might be beneficial for those without health insurance or with low incomes. The requirements differ for each company:

• GlaxoSmithKline Assistance Program offers a few different diabetes medications at a discount through their program.
• Lilly Cares Foundation Patient Assistance Program offers free insulin to those who qualify.
• Sanofi Patient Assistance Program offers free insulin through its Patient Connection program for those who qualify.
• Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program offers free and discounted insulin to those who qualify.
• Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation helps those afford their medications if they qualify.
• Abbott Libre has a program where you can get a free blood glucose meter and discounted test strips.
• The Medtronic Patient Assistance Program will help patients receive a discounted insulin pump if they qualify.
• Dexcom Assistance Program helps people afford their CGMs at a discounted rate for those who qualify.

Check out Discounted Medications Online 

Mark Cuban, a billionaire philanthropist and businessman, thinks the American healthcare system is broken. Recently, he decided to control expenses and founded The Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company.

This company sells drugs at the lowest possible price, which is usually the cost of purchasing them wholesale. This online pharmacy carries hundreds of common and often life-saving medications at a fraction of the retail cost.

Accu-Chek was the first branded product and the first medical device offered on the website. They will also offer other diabetes medications, such as metformin, glipizide, and glimepiride—among others.

The company, which launched in January 2022, adds medications and medical equipment nearly daily.

Get the Insurance Help You Need When You Need It

Having diabetes without health insurance can be stressful, frustrating, expensive, and sometimes scary, but there are options out there to help you, whether not having insurance is a short-term problem or an ongoing issue for you.

If you need immediate assistance in affording your insulin, check out our additional resources at https://getinsulin.org/.

If you do not have the insulin you need to maintain healthy blood-sugar levels, seek emergency medical attention immediately, as high-blood-sugar levels and complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis can be fatal.

Please seek the help you need when you need it—you deserve it.

This content was made possible by Lilly, a Founding Partner of Beyond Type 1.

Beyond Type 1 maintains editorial control over its content.