Diabetes Insurance & Prescription Resources

The financial burden of diabetes can be overwhelming. Whether you need to purchase medical supplies or prescriptions or you’re footing the bill for frequent doctor’s appointments, the expenses can add up.

Diabetes services and supplies are essential for managing their diabetes. Fortunately, there are programs that can relieve some of this burden.

View This Sheet as a PDF

Here are some programs — both local and national — that assist with covering the costs of diabetes.

Paying For Medical Services: Insurance Resources

Medically Handicapped Children’s Program (MHCP)

For Nebraska Residents, Medically Handicapped Children’s Program (MHCP) provides financial assistance for the cost of prescriptions and office visits related to your child’s diabetes. MHCP does not provide assistance to general medical care.

To qualify, your child must:

• Be younger than 20 years old
• Have a qualifying medical condition, such as diabetes
• Meet financial eligibility based on current regulations

Steps to apply:

1. You or a social worker can make a referral to DHHS office, which must include proof of your child’s diagnosis and their contact information. To contact a social worker at Children’s Nebraska, call 402-955-5481.
2. Once the referral is received, MHCP will mail an application to your home, which must be completed and mailed back to MHCP. If it’s accepted, MHCP will back pay to the date the original referral was received.

Any patient who is on Medicaid or will be losing access to their parent’s insurance should start the referral process at age 18 or ASAP.

Referrals may be submitted to any DHHS office, emailed to [email protected], or sent to:

ATTN: Medically Handicapped Children’s Program
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 5026
Lincoln, NE 68509

Health Insurance Marketplace (Affordable Care Act)

You also have the option to buy affordable health insurance through a health insurance marketplace. Some people qualify for a credit, which makes the cost lower. The market is open each year from November 1st through the end of February.

To qualify, your child must:

• Be a US citizen or permanent resident
• Have a Social Security number

After the open enrollment period, the following life events qualify you to apply for new health insurance through the Marketplace:

• New employment
• Change in marital status
• Birth or death of a dependent
• If you are paying more than 9.5% of your gross income for health coverage

Sliding Scale Fee Options

Your income may make you eligible for sliding scale fees. This means that the amount you pay for your services depends on your income, which helps families without insurance get
affordable healthcare.

Sliding Scale services include:

• One World Community Health Centers: One World has a pharmacy on site that provides prescriptions for a lower price to One World Patients. One World also has a wide spectrum of services that meet many needs. To find out the discounted fee, you must show proof of your last month’s income.
• Charles Drew Health Center: A financial assistance application will need to be completed and one of the following will be needed:
  • Pay stubs
  • W-2 form
  • Unemployment statement
  • Letter from employer
  • Disability papers
  • Proof of no income worksheet
• Siouxland Community Health Center: The following documents can be used for verification of financial assistance:
  • Most recent tax return or W-2, if it reflects your current income
  • Most current pay stub from the last full month
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Workman’s compensation
  • Social Security benefit statement
  • Child Support documents, such as a divorce decree
  • ADC/FIP statement
  • Rental income
  • Retirement benefits, such as pension

You can also find a health center near you. For help locating a health center near you that provides services at a lower price based off your income, go to the HRSA Data Warehouse.

Paying For Medicine and Supplies: Prescription Resources

Prescription Assistance Programs

Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free — or reduced-cost — medications to families who cannot afford to buy their medicine.

These programs include:

• Partnership for Prescriptions Assistance, which can help you find programs that can provide assistance. PPA can connect you with more than 475 programs, including more than 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
• RX outreach, which is a non-profit pharmacy that provides medicine for families who cannot afford it. More than 500 medications are offered and mailed directly to you.
• Rx Assist, which is a medication assistance resource Center.

Discount Prescriptions

Some programs can help you find the lowest prescription prices at your local pharmacies and even provide you with useful coupons.

These programs include:

• Good RX
• NeedyMeds Drug Discount App on your mobile device

There are also programs that are medication-specific. If your child has been prescribed any of these drugs, they may qualify for financial assistance.

Drug Name	Manufacturer	Eligibility	Benefits	Process
Basaglar Glucagon Humalog Humulin	Lilly	Gross income less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level Legal Resident of the US Not enrolled in Medicaid	Free medications for patients who meet the criteria	Complete the online application, which will notify your provider via email to complete their portion of application. You must reapply yearly.
Lantus	Sanofi	Income less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level Legal US Citizenship or Residency	Reimbursement, resource, and patient assistance information Copay card without insurance. Call for help if you do have insurance.	Submit application, which must include copy of a recent your tax return, W-2, or Social Security/Disability monthly check or most recent Social Security Statement. For help if you have insurance, call 866-251-4750.
Apidra	Sanofi-Avatis	Legal resident of the US Not enrolled in Medicaid	0$ copay program Copay card without insurance. Call for help if you do have insurance.	Visit the website and select “sign up for Apidra Savings Card” link to complete an application. For help if you have insurance, call 866-251-4707.
Toujeo	Sanofi	Not enrolled in Medicaid	Decreased copay for prescriptions DCopay card without insurance. Call for help if you do have insurance.	Visit their website and select “I want copay savings-and I have commercial insurance” to complete an application.
Levemir	Novo Nordisk	Not enrolled in Medicaid Enrolled in a commercial (private) insurance plan	Decreased copay for prescriptions	Visit their website and request a Levemir Savings Card. Once you request a new card, you will complete the short application.
Tresiba	Novo Nordisk	Not enrolled in Medicaid Enrolled in a commercial (private) insurance plan	Decreased copay for prescriptions	Visit their website and click “sign up and save” link to complete an application.

Do you still have questions about ways to pay for your child’s diabetes care? Contact the diabetes team at Children’s Diabetes Center, Children’s Nebraska at 402-955-3871 to speak to a social worker or a diabetes specialist who can help you find affordable ways to the medical costs of diabetes.