Due to my insurance woes, I have been searching the internet for answers and possibly tricks that other type 1’s use to deal with the out-of-pocket cost of pump supplies, insulin, and testing strips. Until we meet our $2500 individual deductible for the year, everything is going to be out-of-pocket, which means we have to come up with that money now because one month’s supply of insulin, strips, tubing and reservoirs equals $700 (I’m thinking low interest credit card…we’ll reach our limit in 3 months and can start paying it off). I still don’t understand why insulin and pump supplies aren’t automatically covered, or even mandated for coverage because of their necessity for life (one could argue against the necessity of the pump, but that’s not the issue here). Testing strips should be categorized under “preventive medicine,” which automatically gets 100% coverage on our plan even before you reach your deductible. Clinics should be handing out testing strips to their diabetic patients in an effort to promote better control and prevention of both hyper and hypoglycemic episodes. Instead, we have to fight on a nearly monthly basis to justify our need to test often.
I went on the American Diabetes Association’s website to see if they had any info about insurance, and I found this not-so-surprising tidbit of information (notice which state isn’t highlighted…surprise). The ADA’s advocacy efforts have resulted in 46 states with state-regulated health insurance plans that cover diabetes supplies and education, Ohio is one of the four yet to provide coverage. Here’s what you can do to help change that. This press release is proof of why this issue is so important, and why a push to cutback the coverage the ADA worked so hard to put into action makes absolutely no sense.
A new person started following me on Twitter today, so I checked out his url and found something that made my heart flutter. His research could cure diabetes…seriously. Go check out what he’s doing.
The only thing better than comprehensive health coverage for all diabetics is a cure (and a worldwide burning of all test strips).
3 Comments
I followed the link to the research that could cure diabetes, I saw this “porcine endogenous retrovirus” and thought to myself, “what does a porcupine have to do with curing diabetes?”
That darn brain in my head doesn’t seem to be on it’s “A” game anymore.
This part is exciting “The promise for this therapy is so great that clinical trials of pig-to-human islet xenotransplantation began last year in Russia, and they will soon start in the United States.” because if I read that right that means human trials and that’s exciting because that means there will be two different cures in the human trial stage.
I’ve got my fingers crossed.
I signed up for the diabetic legislation link….I will keep my fingers crossed. Hopefully “the heart of it all” can get there shit together.
On the otherhand, the low interest credit card it a good idea for now…I hope it all works out!
Courtney - I’m with you on the surge of hope. Human trials means one step closer to having access to a treatment that will cure us. Let’s hope it works!
Thanks, Britt!