Frequently Asked Questions
Financial Coverage for Diabetes Expenses
This publication was a source for this document:
Financial Help for Diabetes Care
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/financialhelp/index.htm
 Does Medicare cover diabetes-related medical expenses?
Medicare covers supplies for people with diabetes, whether or not they use
insulin. These include glucose testing monitors, blood glucose test strips,
lancet devices and lancets, and glucose control solutions. There may be some
limits on supplies or how often you get them. Medicare also covers the cost
of therapeutic shoes, self-management training, nutrition counseling, flu and
pneumococcal pneumonia shots, and glaucoma screening for people with diabetes.
For more information, see
Medicare Coverage
of Diabetes Related Supplies and Services at the Medicare Web site.
In addition, Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years and older who have diabetes and
haven’t had a medical eye exam in the past three years can receive a free comprehensive
eye exam and up to one year of follow-up care for any condition diagnosed at
the initial exam.
Does Medicaid cover diabetes-related medical expenses?
Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines
regarding eligibility and services. Visit the Medicaid
Site for Consumer Information to locate information by state.
Where can I find free or low-cost diabetes coverage and services?
The Bureau of Primary Health Care within the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) has a nationwide network
of community-based health care centers that provide primary health care
services at little or no cost.
Hospitals and other health care facilities participating in HRSA’s Hill-Burton
Program provide free and low-cost services to eligible individuals.
The State Children’s Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP) provides free or low-cost health insurance for children.
The Partnership for Prescription
Assistance* provides information about public and private patient assistance
programs, which help low-income, uninsured patients get free or nearly free
brand-name medicines.
For more information, see
Is my health insurance provider required to provide coverage for diabetes
treatment?
As of December 2005, 46 states
have some type of laws requiring health insurance coverage to include treatment
for diabetes.
For more information, see the CDC’s Web site.
* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely
as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any
organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred.
The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization
Web pages found at this link.
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Page last reviewed: December 3, 2008
Page last modified: June 8, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation
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Diabetes & Me