How to Get Free Nutritional Supplements

Kristie Janeway Jernigan, BS, MHA
Ensure and Glucerna are two popular types of supplements that are used today. Millions of people rely on nutritional supplements to help them manage healthy weights, keep blood sugar stable and provide extra nutrition to their diets. Many physicians actually recommend these supplements to help maintain their patient's health. The supplements can be obtained without a prescription. However, the cost of purchasing these supplements can be very high. Many elderly that live on a fixed budget or low income persons have difficulty affording these high costs. As a result their health is put at risk.

Many elderly or disabled people suffer from nutritional problems. Many times they need an extra boost to their diets to get their complete daily dietary needs. Ensure is for people who are not diabetic and come in many different varieties such as: Ensure, Ensure Plus, Ensure with Fiber, Ensure with Calcium and Ensure with Protein. Glucerna is another supplement that is in liquid form and is made for diabetics. Glucerna also comes in different varieties including: Glucerna, Glucerna Select and Glucerna Hi Cal Shake. Both supplements come in numerous flavors to choose from.

There are ways to get help with the cost of some of these supplements. Ross Labs, the company that makes Ensure and Abbott Pharmaceuticals who makes Glucerna offer help to patients through an assistance program. These programs are based on a person's yearly income so someone who has a large income is not going to be eligible. These programs can be easily accessed through website at www.rxassist.org. On this website you can print off applications for just about any medication or supplement that you need financial help with. The applications can be printed off and must be signed by a physician. Once the application is mailed into the company and approval is obtained, the patient can start receiving free Ensure.

Another way to obtain free supplements is to go through your local Department of Social Service. In the past, programs for help with nutritional supplements were available. These were commonly accessed by the social workers working for hospitals or home health agencies. Many people never consider that their area Department of Social Service can be a wonderful resource for help with things like this.

Although there is not coverage for every supplement (Boost is difficult to get for free). There are supplements that are free and can be substituted. Anyone who needs help with getting these supplements should consider the tips listed above. It is important to keep a person's health in order and if your physician believes that a nutritional supplement can do this then you need to do what you can to assist yourself.

Published by Kristie Janeway Jernigan, BS, MHA

My educational background is diverse. I first obtained my Bachelors degree in psychology and a minor in early childhood. I recently returned to school and obtained my Masters in health administration and ger...   View profile

To comment, please sign in to your Yahoo! account, or sign up for a new account.