The cost of medical care is high, and the cost of diabetic care is astronomical. In the United States, diabetes costs an estimated $132 billion annually. That's an astounding figure. But what does it cost the individual?
If you have diabetes, you will not only have the cost of regular doctor visits to contend with, but you will also have the cost of testing supplies, medications, diagnostic testing, and possibly home care and the cost of specialists. Then, of course, there is the cost of the other health problems that are associated with diabetes, such as heart disease and kidney failure.
If you have health insurance at the time that you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may not feel the full effect of the cost of diabetes. However, should you change jobs -- and therefore, insurance coverage -- or you are forced to change insurance coverage for some other reason, you may be in trouble. In fact, because the diabetes is a preexisting condition, your new insurance may not cover it. If you have private health insurance, you can certainly expect your premiums to go up once you are diagnosed with diabetes.
There are some things that you can do, however, to cut down the costs of diabetes. The first thing to do is to work hard at getting your blood sugar levels in the normal range so that you can either get off of any medication you are on, or avoid having to take medication at all. If you cannot get off of the medication, visit the website of the drug manufacturer to see if they have a program to help you pay for your medication. Many drug manufacturers do, in fact, have such a program. Use generic drugs whenever possible, but be sure to ask your doctor first.
Testing supplies are also a big expense. The lancets and the glucose monitor are not overly expensive. But the necessary test strips are outrageous! If you have insurance, they will only cover so many testing supplies per month -- and it won't be enough. You can expect to pay approximately $100 out of pocket. If you don't have health insurance that will help with the testing supplies, you can expect to pay $200 to $300 per month. Don't buy your testing supplies locally! Instead, do some bargain hunting on the Internet.
Again, the best way to save money on the cost of diabetes is to work at keeping the diabetes under control. You will have to test often -- but if that is the major expense that you are paying associated with your diabetes, you are getting off cheap!
