Diabetes Advocacy...Assistance

Assistance...

Diabetes is a costly disease in so many ways. Trying to fight complications can be a financial burden that often is too much to carry. Sadly it is the poorest in our world who stand the highest chance of experiencing complications. Some provinces and states in North America offer help to cover the costs of such items. That is still not enough. There are those of us in Canada who are and will continue to lobby various government agencies so that one day there is no longer this gap and everyone living with diabetes will have equal access to the best methods of care.

Government Aid in Canada

Registered Disability Savings Plan from the government of Canada. Similar in principal to an RRSP but for the assistance of medical expenses.

British Columbia offers a PharmaCare program. Benefits and coverage under this program depend on income level. They do extend to all insulin on its formulary as well as insulin pump supplies for those under 25.

Manitoba

Will cover insulin pumps and supplies for children in their province. For more information, contact Diabetes Education Resource for Children and Adolescents (DER-CA) at 204-787-3011

Saskatchewan As of July 2003, Saskatchewan has expanded its drug plan for people with diabetes. It will now cover syringes and lancets. It is thought that this will benefit at least 15,000 people. Insulin pumps and supplies are covered for children up to 18 years.

Ontario has two provincial drug programs that work the same way. The Ontario Drug Benefits Program and the Trillium Drug Plan both offer insulin coverage for families meeting the provincial criteria. Insulin covered only includes those listed on the provincial drug formulary.
The Ontario government provides assistance for insulin pumps and supplies for children and adults.

Newfoundland and Labrador Effective October 31, 2007, Newfoundland and Labrador will introduce their new "Assurance" prescription drug plan. The Assurance Plan offers protection against the financial burden of eligible high drug costs, whether from the cost of one extremely high-cost drug or the combined cost of different drugs. Depending on their income level, individuals and families will be assured that their annual out-of-pocket costs for eligible drugs will be capped at a percentage of their net family income.

Annual Income (net)	Maximum % of Income to Spend on Eligible Drug Costs
$0 - $39,999	5%
$40,000 - $74,999	7.5%
$75,000 to $149,999	10%

Applications are available in physician’s offices and pharmacies as well as on-line at www.gov.nl.ca/health

Insulin pumps and supplies are covered for those under 25 years of age.

Nova Scotia has recently changed its diabetes care program. As of January 2006, they have launched the New Diabetes Assistance Plan which covers test strips, lancets, syringes and insulin listed on its formulary. This plan is designed to assist low-income families and people who are under the age of 65 and have no other drug coverage. Registration is underway for the Diabetes Assistance Program. Registration forms and information booklets are available by calling the Nova Scotia Diabetes Assistance Program. Information is also available on the Department of Health website. Forms and booklets can also be found in doctors' offices, pharmacies, and diabetes centres. Insulin pumps and supplies are covered for those under 25yr.

In New Brunswickfinancial assistance is for insulin coverage is limited to those receiving income support or low-income seniors. They only offer coverage to those insulins listed on their provincial formularies unless special authorization is given. Insulin pumps are now covered for children up to 19 years of age.

The situation in the Yukon and other territories remains somewhat unique. Many people living in the north receive 100% coverage of all insulins, pumps and pump supplies under the Non-Insured Health Benefits plan (NIHB). For those not covered under NIHB, there are different policies for the different territories. In the Yukon for example, all insulins except Levemir® are covered. They also cover pumps and pump supplies. To have your pump paid for, you must have an application filled that gives details of your case history stating your failure on MDI, evidence of your commitment and competence to use the pumps, as well as support for initiation and follow up therapy. Requests based on life style choices will not be considered. These requests must be signed by an endocrinologist. There are no specialists in the North. Patients seeking the support of doctors such as endocrinologists must go to major centres such as Vancouver, Edmonton, and Winnipeg to have their pumps prescribed

Insulin Pump Assistance Programs

International Efforts to Help with Supplies

is a board-governed, all-volunteer, non-profit diabetes charity located in Upland, CA, USA. In addition to financial donations, they also take donations of diabetes supplies, insulin pumps, and insulin pump supplies. They give away all
donated items for free to qualifying persons in need.

International Diabetes Federation A dollar a day will help a child live with diabetes in a developing nation.

If you know of other organizations collecting supplies please let us know and we will share that information online. If you have extra supplies that you can no longer use and would like to donate them to someone who may not be able to afford them, please let us know and we will try to connect you with a needy person/organization.

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