Diabetes Health Insurance: For A Sweeter Life
Anywhere in the world, young and old alike face an epidemic of diabetes that can be self-managed given the resources.
The disease involves the elevation of blood glucose levels that damage nerve endings and blood vessels, leading to serious health complications including blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. In the US alone, an estimated 18 million Americans have diabetes, and 1 million more are diagnosed each year.
But this type of disease is not fatal provided that it can be effectively managed and medical care and supplies are available. Unfortunately, most of these equipment that are needed to monitor and control blood glucose levels are expensive. Various scientific studies have found that the lack of diabetes health insurance make it harder for people to manage their diabetes, often that led to devastating consequences.
Just the routine costs of managing diabetes, which tests and controls blood glucose levels) can reach hundreds of dollars per month. Uninsured adults with diabetes are far less likely to receive needed care and effectively manage their disease, and those with health insurance have difficulty obtaining needed care when coverage is inadequate.
To avoid the risk of the rising cost of health care, individuals who are diabetic or have family members affected with the disease should avail of the diabetes health insurance. However, one should research first the extent of the medical coverage to avoid getting frustrated and only to end up wasting all the premium payments made because of the medical underwritings.
Among the things that should be done first before getting a health insurance for diabetes is to check the market for any insurance that covers those people with pre existing medical conditions. This means that one has a health problem that has been identified, diagnosed, or treated before availing of any health insurance. With a pre-existing condition exclusion period, the plan will make a policy holder wait before the insurance company pays the medical costs. The wait may take up to one year if the insurance is through an employer.
Secondly, go over the list of benefits and coverage that are being offered as it should be expanded to cater to the regular needs of a diabetic policy holder, such as blood glucose monitor, test strips, lancets and insulin.
Finally, sign up only after reading all the underwriting and all that are needed for the medications and hospitalizations are thoroughly explained and written down.
Diabetic people are given a glimpse of hope now in managing their disease after its inclusion in the list of insurable diseases. This was further legalized under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which gives health insurance carriers the option to cover pre-existing conditions of policy holders.
The same law also prevents the employer from imposing an exclusion period for a pre-existing condition when availing of a group insurance. Those who had health insurance with a previous employer and have not been without health insurance coverage for more than 63 days may be exempted also from this exclusion period. In some states, it is required for an employer-based insurance company to cover a pre-existing condition even if the employee was without insurance for a bit more than 63 days.
As a diabetic, it always pays to have accurate information and good understanding of your financial situation and insurance coverage, aside from paying your insurance premiums regularly to save your life.