Dealing with one of my fears

From time to time I'm reminded about just how devastating diabetes might be. In this case I'm not thinking of the various complications that we think about all the time. This is a situation that those of us in the US are more in danger of encountering

Until yesterday, I thought that personal bankruptcy was really reserved for those of us without insurance. But the article Insured, but Bankrupted by Health Crises in yesterday's New York Times points out that being insured doesn't mean I'll be saved from financial woes. Hearing that "an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured" does not make it easy to sleep at night.

For me living with diabetes is all about balance, nothing new about this if you've been living with diabetes at all. But here's a situation that I just can't balance out.

Since being laid off earlier in the year my insurance is provided thanks to COBRA. But that will expire in the middle of next year and my insurance choices at that stage may be severely limited. With an 'existing condition' my chances of getting coverage for diabetes costs are zero unless I have a full-time job with health insurance by then.

But here's something that I may be able to affect positively. I'm going to write to my federal representatives and let them know just how important health insurance legislation is for me and my family. Not being covered is a challenge for me that strains our budget. But declaring bankruptcy affects my family and I don't like it when something threatens people I love.

Can I ask for your help?

I know from years of contacting elected officials that a note in the mail is often the most effective way to get their attention. A hand-written note really wakes them up, but even a typed letter goes a long way. Look up your elected federal officials and drop them a quick note telling them why access to real insurance is so important to you. If they hear from a handful of us it might just make the difference when it counts most.

Labels: bankruptcy, congress, coverage, debt, insurance

posted by Bernard @ 7:34 PM 4 Comments Links to this post  

Briefing on the Toll of Diabetes

Today, January 23rd 2008, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the members of the congressional diabetes caucus will hold a briefing to announce the annual diabetes cost estimates for 2007. Maybe if you're in Washington you can drop by and listen to the briefing.

During this briefing, speakers will release staggering new figures about the direct and indirect costs of the disease, and reveal the devastating expense incurred by Americans.

I'll be interested to see how much the incidence and cost of diabetes has increased. And also whether any new legislation is proposed during the briefing.

Update: The final estimated cost(PDF) for diabetes in 2007 was $174 billion. The US Population last year was about 300,000,000 people. That means the toll of diabetes was about $580 for every person in the US.

If a cure is ever found that would mean that huge amount of money could eventually be put to better uses. Hey, I'd happily take mine as a tax break!

Labels: ADA, congress

posted by Bernard @ 5:40 AM 1 Comments Links to this post