#DBlogWeek Day 2 – The Cost of a Chronic Illness

The prompt: Insulin and other diabetes medications and supplies can be costly. Here in the US, insurance status and age (as in Medicare eligibility) can impact both the cost and coverage. So today, let’s discuss how cost impacts our diabetes care. Do you have advice to share? For those outside the US, is cost a concern? Are there other factors such as accessibility or education that cause barriers to your diabetes care?

This post is difficult for me to write because I know that I’m extremely fortunate when it comes to insurance coverage and access to my diabetes supplies. I’m not 26 years old yet, so I’m still eligible to be covered by my parents’ health insurance. While I may not have the latest and greatest versions of some diabetes technology, at least I have them and they function effectively. I know that in many parts of the world, people struggle to get the insulin they need daily to survive—forget the fancy gadgets like my continuous glucose monitor or OmniPod.

That being said, I feel like the cost of diabetes care can be staggering. I’m grateful that I haven’t had the same issues that other people have had, but it breaks my heart to know that there are so many people who have diabetes and simply can’t afford the cost of essential supplies. I’m even more upset by the possibility of the American Health Care Act coming to fruition, knowing that the passage of this despicable health-care reform could mean that many Americans would lose their health-care coverage. It’s unsettling to think that so many of us with preexisting conditions could be treated unfairly and denied our vital medications because of a thoughtless and cruel piece of legislation.

To end this post on a slightly more positive note, I’m really looking forward to reading what other people have to say about this subject. I want to understand cost and coverage issues to a fuller extent, and I want to know how my fellow people with diabetes advocate for themselves and their health. I see this as a learning opportunity, a chance to be better informed, so I know how I can help.