28 Comments
How concerned are you right now about affording your next order of T1D supplies?
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Health Insurance, Medicare, plus supplemental insurance covers most of the costs. Blood test strips, lancets and alcohol pads are not covered. But, I use them very seldom.
If revulsion is āa concernā then the answer would be āvery.ā Whatās a body to do? Pay up or die. Rarely are lifeās choices so simple.
Even Jack Bennyās famous hold up question about āYour money or your life?ā could be at least thought about and considered.
I am fortunate to have great health insurance and an FSA to cover my out of pocket expenses, such as my copayās.
My concern is not about affordability but about access. Will my endocrinologist continue to renew my prescriptions for insulin and will the amounts prescribed be sufficient, or will they try to micromanage it to the last drop, or decide I can’t really be T1 because I am old and should just eat less and exercise more? Will they fax the appointment notes to Edwards before my CGM authorization expires or will they merely say they did because they don’t understand why it matters? Will I be able to get some sort of appointment at the correct interval so I don’t lose my authorization ? I fought hard to get the correct diagnosis and access to insulin 18 years ago, and CGM authorization over 10 years ago, why must I continue to fight for these things?
So frustrating for you! This is truly unacceptable.
Thanks for enumerating all the ways there are to stop an order for the next supply shipment to reach its destination. I was only going to add my usual “Harumph!” to the whole system, and let it go at that. You, Mary, have spelled it out in terms anyone should understand and take seriously. Thank you sincerely. I’ve been in this game for almost 70 years and wonder about the toll it’s taking on the whole diabetes population. We can’t win without trying!
Somewhat.
I live in Canada with no medical coverage. In Canada doctor visits and hospital stays are covered. So if I run out of insulin I can always go to the nearest hospital.
I’m very lucky that I pay nothing out of pocket for any of my Dex, Tandem and Insulin supplies. The only thing I now pay for is my Test Stripes (Maybe $50 dollars every two years.) I stopped that prescription when I started on the Dex (G5) sensors.
Not only am I concerned about affordability but several times my insurance company has reneged on their promise to pay and sent me a bill for supplies that were previously covered. So I would have a zero due balance then 6 months later I would get a bill because insurance would use a new term like coinsurance or some other term that changed the terms of their responsibilities in their favor
Not at all concerned as I live in the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) where ALL of my diabetes supplies cost me absolutely zero. They are ALL paid for by our NHS (National Health Service), which is financed via direct taxation of all working people.
I wonder if America’s great capitalist society will ever catch up? It’s not about the people, it’s about the money!
@Lawrence S.,
I truly do wish I could answer that question, sir. I have ‘spoken’ with people, via email, that have experienced extreme difficulty with buying/affording to buy such necessities as insulin, some of whom I have little doubt that have now ‘passed over’ because of the situation in the United States. I had contemplated sending some of my own supplies to them, but I know full well that this contravenes the laws within my own country, and I’m not even sure that they would be allowed through customs in the United States.
It makes me incredibly sad that such a rich nation can’t even devise a way to ‘look after’ its citizens. Then again, I guess there’s no profit to be made, is there?
I am fortunate not to have to be concerned with affording supplies. However, my freestyle Libre sensors are supposedly on back order and I’ve been going now for a week and a half without a sensor. It’s actually nice not to be being woken up at night by the alarms But, it also is difficult to make decisions without continuous monitoring. I know I know, we did it for years but I got used to being able to swipe my arm and see what my blood sugar was and be warned if it’s too high or too low. Is anyone know anything about this back order thing? Is anyone else affected?
I am not worried about affording my T1d supplies because I thankfully have Medicare and a part D Rx plan. I am worried about the onerous question each month about what number of sensors I have left. It’s like Medicare has edited they be rationed. I get a 3 month supply of resivors and infusion sets, but sensors are only dolled out once a month. Is Medicare worried about somebody hording them and selling them on the black market?
Wow! When I receive my Tandem and Dexcom supplies, it’s for 90 days worth or is supposed to be. Maybe that’s why I’ve gotten enough sensors to cover 4.5 out of 9 months, this year.
Thank god for Kaiser! And MediCare! My co pay is 20% on some things, $0 on others.
Fortunately insurance covers my supplies, except insulin which costs close to $400 each January to cover my deductible then drops to more affordable $38. Not a cheap disease we have!!!
I think in the best of times logical to have a little concern. “Supply chain” issues has me thinking but cost wise I’ve lowered my expenses so there’s a little more financially (sold my house last year, remodeled a “garage apartment,”) but don’t see me retiring soon.
But I also have three other brothers offer me a place so I’m fortunate.
I can pay it. I am frugal, and my life choices were made with the idea of keeping medical insurance. However, my effective income has tken a big hit. It means alot less money for my retirement, etc. The situation might have been quite different if I were in my 20’s. Back then, a ten-fold rise in out of pocket insulin costs would not have been possible for me to absorb.
he unexpectedness of the leap in costs, as well as supply chain issues, gives me a fair amount of fear.
Not concerned about affording it but concerned about getting supplies thanks to switching insurance and referrals and authorizations taking soooo long
I pay a lot for FEP blue cross, in addition to Medicare Part B, so my diabetes supplies are well-covered, at least at this time.
Not at all concerned, however I must confess to a niggling sense of “what if it was not available or delayed?”
My most pressing concern is will Edwards get my monthly sensor allotment to me before I run out? Being able to afford supplies is a constant concern as I watch my spouse suffer each day from the mental and physical pain created by her work environment in the hospital. Her employment pays our insurance.
Ask in December š
I’m just concerned about MAGA politicians like Ted Cruz and their attempts to shut down Medicare
Thankfully, we’ve gotten everything squared away with my new insurance. PA’s are in place, so all is covered. Yay!
I chose a little concerned as I always stock up as much as possible on my medical supplies. I have the best possible health care coverage, but do not take things for granted.
Who knows what could always occur and affect even the healthiest people, economic plunges, the bubonic plague, a natural disaster, a worldwide war, …
I do not worry about it, but know these things are possible and keep occurring throughout history. They have always been a recurrent part of life.
Some states refuse available federal funds for healthcare! Whole Washington is again gathering initiative signatures for our own universal single payer plan. Isnāt that how Canada did it, province by province, starting in Saskatchewan? Politicians running for re-election are vulnerable. Email them, phone them, bug them. Demand a response from your inquiry describing your problem, one issue at a time. Be polite but persistent. Ask TV reporters to investigate. Join a group for coordinated effectiveness. Or at least send a check for $25 explaining what you want changed. Iām grateful for past lobbying by JDRF kids, disabled people chaining themselves on Capital steps, dramatic actions by Act Up AIDS activists for healthcare research and reforms, activist nurses and doctors. Now we need to educate the new younger politicians. You might check local chapters of other groups like Social Security Works, National Nurses United, Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan. Donāt privatize Medicare. Donāt privatize social security.