Justin's Story

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

We, the Undersigned - Diabetes Blog Week Day 2

Todays Topic:

Recently various petitions have been circulating the Diabetes Online Community, so today let's pretend to write our own. Tell us who you would write the petition to – a person, an organization, even an object (animate or inanimate) - get creative!! What are you trying to change and what have you experienced that makes you want this change?
(Thanks to Briley of inDpendence for this topic suggestion.)



Ok so 6 months into this new life of ours, and honestly our biggest struggle is the expense of all the supplies.  We have decent insurance, and a HSA, that is already used up for the year.  Luckily now we have met our RX deductible.  After its met, things are a little more reasonable but now its completely out of pocket since the money on the HSA card is used up for the year.  

My petition would be written to ??!!  Maybe the governor, I have no clue....  Whoever can help lower costs!!

In searching for any kind of assistance program for diabetic supplies, all I seem to come across is help for those 65 and older and on Medicare........Well NEWSFLASH, Older type 2's aren't the only diabetics!  In fact Type 2, depending on what medication they are on don't need to test BG even close to as often as I test Justin in one day!  The test strips are definitely the biggest expense, and besides the life saving insulin, the most important supply!  

I learned very quick that all of the companies are super quick to send you or give you a free meter, only to be suckered in to buying there super expensive test strips.  There should be some law banning that, or somehow make strips universal in all machines.  

Before deductible, the monthly cost on everything, which is just regular price for anyone tops $400!!!  That is just crazy!  Now that deductible is met cost is about $100/month, much more reasonable. But still when your already on a budget makes things that much harder.  Plus we don't refill everything exactly every month, some things last a little longer than 30 days.  

I am blessed that we have insurance, and are able to pay for these things for Justin, but what if we couldn't, or what if there's a time when we can't afford to.  I have had adult diabetics tell me they would only test 1 or 2 times a day, cause they couldn't afford the supplies.  That is just ridiculous!!  No one should have to put there life at risk over these necessary supplies.  

There definitely needs to be a better assistance program, geared to getting diabetics of ALL AGES, lower cost supplies and medications. 

And that's my rant on that :) 


3 comments:

  1. I couldnt agree more! And if the price of getting the supplies isnt bad enough it seems like they make you jump through hoops to get the things you need to survive.

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  2. Now you might understand what I was saying when i was down there. That I need to find a job with health benefits. The cost of the supplies you need to live is ridiculous !!!!

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