Samantha Walsh
Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.
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Since your T1D diagnosis, have you ever been without health insurance? Please share any effects this had on your T1D management in the comments. Cancel reply
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I was diagnosed T1D while in the USAF, once discharged I had no health insurance but my T1D needs were covered by the Veterans Administration.
I don’t have personal insurance, in fact, I’ve never had personal insurance, but I live in the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) where our medical needs are taken care of via our NHS (National Health System) which is financed via direct taxation of all people who earn more than a ‘given amount’. i.e. that would be most working people. This covers treatment costs and prescription costs.
No one should be denied health care. Kudos to the UK for taking care of it’s citizens.
Same for me, in Italy.
@Lawrence S. I ‘hear’ what you say, sir, but SOME people do resent the taxes they pay being put forward to taking care of those that aren’t as fit as themself/ves. 😉
@Gustavo Avitabile. I’m pleased that Spain also offers coverage for people, sir.
Thankfully have always had insurance. Bit as a nurse have seen how devastating not having insurance does to diabetes care.
I live in Canada and owned my own business. So I have never had any type of medical/drug coverage. I live in Ontario so once I hit 65 I will have some drug coverage. Ironic that insulin was discovered in Toronto Canada, but many people here struggle to pay for it.
In late 1980s after a divorce, I had a few years without health insurance. The cost of insulin and syringes at that time was not expensive so I paid it myself. It was not a problem to not have coverage at that point but it would be today.
Paying for insulin and day to day maintenance is not my main reason for wanting insurance. I am more concerned about the increased likelihood we all have of major health complications: kidney disease, cardiovascular issues, retinopathy, etc. Any of these could be impossible to afford in the US.
I was diagnosed in 1976 while in college. Insulin, syringes, and urine test strips were inexpensive and could be purchased without a prescription. My first insurance came five years later when I was hired by a school district that provided it.
Very similar story, diagnosed in 1969. Sporadic insurance until my early 40’s, then was blessed with a job teaching with benefits. Now retired with medicare.
I only got on a health plan as an adult about 5 years ago. Before that I couldn’t consider getting a pump or CGM because of the costs. My control is so much better now.
I was without insurance for about 3 years. I didn’t get the annual exams I needed, like eyes, or timely doctor visits. I had to pay for insulin and CGM supplies out of pocket. I rationed other things to afford my insulin. It was about $450 a vial. I was grateful to get a job and have insurance coverage again.
A few months before Medicare, insurance botched my coverage and cancelled my insurance. Fortunately, I had a small surplus of supplies and medications to bridge this gap.
Yes, both as an adult and as a child with T1D. It was both disruptive and expensive.
I was diagnosed in college. I went to the UK about 8 months later, where the national health system covered me. I married an American, but was not covered while home the 3 months before our wedding and the 3 months before my husband’s insurance kicked in from his new job. Insulin, syringes and test strips were not expensive. Later my husband was sent to work abroad and we had coverage, but it was in the UK again, and they did not provide pumps. So when we returned to the U.S. I finally got a pump. Around that time the UK started covering pumps for kids, and later for adults.
Recently laid off and public insurance is very expensive. I have to ration my medication and might have to go back to syringes and vials… old school.
My answer was NO. I have been employed since I was 1 discharged from the USN at 21 years old, now 79, retired and covered my last employer the Federal Aviation Administration.
I forgot Medicare parts A and B.
Retired last year, went without insurance until December when I entered the VA health system. From February until December purchased all prescriptions through Amazon, the Libre3 through Wal-Mart and GoodRX. Insulin pens with Glargine and initially Lispro through Amazon, until I found Aspart was so inexpensive in vial form at Wal-Mart (again GoodRX). My a1C dropped from 6.0 to 5.2, more time? able to do what I wanted? (a lot of volunteering, gardening, and yeah worked part-time).
I had to switch to Medicare this year and getting my supplies was very difficult. I was really stressed out for about a month while fighting the battles. It was a very disappointing experience!
This happened to me once. I called the manufacturers of my supplies. I was able to get some discounts, which really helped!