I am looking for individuals to join me in lobbying Congress and legislators to get them to Federally mandate insurance companies to stop discriminating against diabetics. As diabetics, we need constant testing, to monitor our lipids, to monitor our hepatic and renal functions, to see how our medications are affecting us, both positively and adversely, to watch our cardiovascular health. We need constant glucose and insulin monitoring.
Without access to a doctor, labs, medications, and supplies, we are floating in the sea of ambiguity.
I am surprised there has not been a movement to attack insurance companies because of their discriminatory problems.
Diabetes is very close to being a handicap, in the sense that we HAVE to have the things we need to maintain our lives, we have to eat when we need to, etc.
I am seeking others who will join me. I have made many calls, but I get form letters, and a general lack of interest. The American Diabetic Association should be lobbying on behalf of us, and I suggested they put attorneys in charge of this. There is NO WAY insurance companies are going to listen to us without the backing of attorneys, because there are only two things they fear…LOSING MONEY and BAD PRESS.
In my state, Arizona, an insurance company can discriminate against a diabetic and deny them coverage based on having diabetes.
Per the Arizona Department of Insurance: Arizona state law allows health insurance companies to reject applicants ofr individual health insurance based on their health status. In the individual market, diabetes is usually considered to be an “Uninsurable Condition.”
Just because they may discriminate against OTHER conditions doesn’t mean it isn’t discrimination. That is like saying if someone discriminates against someone for being Latino, it’s not discrimination because there are other minority groups they discriminate against.
This is not about Employer-sponsored coverage, where you cannot be denied coverage.