April 8
Managing Diabetes on a Budget in PA
For people with diabetes, it’s important to stay up to date with prescription medication and proper nutrition. If you are navigating a health condition like diabetes while living on a tight budget, managing prescriptions and a healthy diet can be challenging. Fortunately, there are many resources and tools available for keeping diabetes under control, even while on a budget.
How Do You Manage Chronic Disease on a Tight Budget?
If you make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but you find private health insurance premiums too expensive, you are what is called an ALICE household. This stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. What it means is that you earn an income that is above the Federal Poverty Level, but money is tight, and how you manage a chronic disease like diabetes can be tricky.
At LCH, many of the families we serve are in ALICE households. We understand that not all our patients can use insurance to seek healthcare, which is why our services are available on a sliding scale fee model. Regardless of your ability to pay, we are committed to working with you on chronic disease management with an integrated approach to healthcare.
Lack of insurance and a tight budget are not barriers to healthcare at LCH. If you have diabetes or risk factors for diabetes, regular check-ups are an essential aspect of chronic disease management. Affordable, sliding scale fee-based check-ups are also one of the best ways to prevent diabetic complications that could lead to an expensive emergency room visit.
Affording Diabetes Medications and Insulin on a Budget
Most people manage diabetes with the help of medication that regulates blood sugar. Diabetes medication must be prescribed by your healthcare provider and should always be taken according to the instructions. If you live on a tight budget and do not have full insurance coverage for diabetes medication, affordability quickly becomes part of your chronic disease management plan.
Accessing Generic Diabetes Medications
Oral medication like Metformin is highly effective for helping individuals control their diabetes symptoms. This medication is available under generic labels for a fraction of the price of brand name prescriptions. The ingredients are all the same, and the only difference you will notice is the lower cost. When prescribing, LCH providers always indicate to your pharmacist that generic diabetes medications are acceptable. This helps keep out-of-pocket costs low for our patients.
Navigating Insulin Cost Without Insurance
The cost of insulin without insurance is a concern for many ALICE households. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), LCH participates in the 340B drug pricing program. The program provides affordable insulin so that individuals can maintain the right supply of medication.
No matter your financial circumstances, finding the cheapest diabetes medications may be necessary for your household budget. At LCH, our Social Assistance team helps patients, with or without insurance, who have been prescribed expensive medications, sign up for pharmaceutical assistance programs. For those eligible, these programs can lower the cost if the medications substantially. We start with the medications prescribed by their primary care provider (PCP). Then their PCP decides what medication the patient needs, and we try and find ways to support the cost of those medications.
Eating Well: Cheap Diabetic Meals and Diet Tips
Effective diabetes management involves both medication and a healthy diet. If you are working hard to control your diabetes on a budget, though, healthy eating can feel like an expensive barrier to better health. The good news is that sticking to a diabetic diet on a budget is very doable with the right strategies.
Well-planned cheap diabetic meals can be both filling and nutritious. The goal for a diabetic diet is to eat foods that are rich in protein and vitamins and are also low-glycemic and not overly processed. These are some great examples of what to shop for to follow your diabetes diet on a budget:
- Frozen, non-starchy vegetables – look for all sorts of green vegetables and colorful peppers, shopping two-for-one sales and choosing store brands whenever possible.
- Protein in a can or pouch – tuna, salmon, and chicken are all inexpensive proteins that can be found in the canned aisle of your supermarket. These portions are great for lunches and can be paired with salads or steamed vegetables for a well-rounded meal.
- Canned or dried beans – most types of beans are high in protein and low-glycemic. They are also very affordable, especially for the quantity. Dried beans sold in bags are cheaper than canned, but they take a little more planning and effort in the kitchen. Shop for sales and try to keep both canned and dried options on hand for more variety.
- Bulk foods – whether you shop at a bulk foods store, or your local supermarket stocks bulk items, these products are usually cheaper per unit than single products. Look at the price label on the shelf to see what the bulk versus single product costs per ounce or unit to determine which one costs less.
Eating a balanced diabetic diet is more than about prices at the store. It requires having the right foods in your kitchen so that you can make healthy choices with every meal. Keep an eye out for sales so that you can make sure your cupboards and freezer are always stocked with healthy diabetes-friendly foods that last.
If food insecurity is a real concern, local food pantries always have a solid supply of shelf-stable foods that work well with a diabetic diet. The Diabetes Plate is the easiest way to create healthy, low-carb meals that help you manage your blood sugar. Additionally, the LCH Social Assistance team helps our community members apply for SNAP food benefits that make shopping for a diabetic diet on a budget much more manageable.
Navigating Insurance and Pennsylvania Resources
Managing diabetes without health insurance is challenging for many families, especially ALICE households in our Southern Chester County region. Often, the fear of insurance costs is the biggest barrier to accessing healthcare.
Affordable Health Insurance for Diabetics
If you have not looked into your health insurance options because of this fear, you may find that there are affordable insurance plans for your income level. Pennsylvania’s official marketplace, Pennie, has insurance plans that include chronic disease management care. Your household may also qualify for Medicaid, even if you were previously denied.
At LCH, we work with individuals to explore the best insurance options based on their unique circumstances, including age, household income, and legal status. Our team is committed to helping every patient understand their options and connect with coverage that’s right for them. Even if enrolling in an insurance plan is not the right choice for your family, ALICE healthcare is still accessible and affordable through our sliding fee discount program.
Local Support in Southern Chester County
LCH has been serving the Southern Chester County region for over 50 years, and affordable access to healthcare has always been central to our mission. The Federal Poverty Level is not the only number that indicates whether a household needs financial assistance. At LCH, we do not turn anyone away, even if they are unable to pay for healthcare.
ALICE households are among the many types of households that struggle to afford quality healthcare. If this describes your family, LCH can help. We offer social assistance at our Kennett Square, West Grove, and Oxford locations so that every member of our community can walk into a safe space to access healthcare and other affordable resources for managing diabetes care.
Your Health is Our Priority
If you have a diabetes diagnosis, but you are concerned about the cost of managing your chronic disease, please visit your closest LCH location. Our healthcare services are available to you so that you can achieve optimal diabetes health without extra financial stress. From cheap diabetes medication to diabetes meal planning on a budget and affordable health insurance for diabetics, our team supports individuals with effective and accessible healthcare. LCH offers bilingual services, Telehealth appointments, and transportation assistance to remove all barriers to healthcare access. We also offer an integrated approach that ensures consistent care between specialists and other healthcare providers. If you would like to schedule an appointment for Diabetes Testing, Diabetes Management, or a routine check-up, please contact your closest LCH location to get started.