Medical Expenses and Supplies

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Buckroth’s Blog
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Medical Expenses and SuppliesBy buckroth

This is a tough subject for me to share. It is magnanimous in detail and overwhelming to realize. Wait, you’ll see what I’m talking about!

Yes, as a lifetime diabetic – 50+ years and counting – the collection of medical supplies continues. Compared with the cost of living, juggling a salary with necessary medical supply costs causes anxiety. Anxiety, also known as stress, is one ingredient that is useless in the life of a diabetic. Plainly, stress causes the rise of blood sugar and blood pressure. Not good for anyone.

“Increasing Cost of Diabetes Places Strain on Healthcare Funds Medical expenses for diabetics are, on average, approximately 2.3 times higher than for those people who do not have diabetes, with approximately 10% of healthcare dollars spent on the condition and its complications. The expanding diabetes epidemic and resultant rise in the cost of diabetes is placing increasing burden on healthcare funds, which is already facing the strain from costs associated with the advancing age of the baby boomer generation.

“… study shows that significant changes in both public and private strategies are needed in order to help stem the rise in prevalence of diabetes, which is expected to fuel this rise in healthcare costs.

“The Rising Cost of Diabetes for Healthcare: Surge in Medical Diabetes Costs Predicted as Epidemic Expands in USA http://www.suite101.com/content/the-rising-cost-of-diabetes-a176175#ixzz1I0Q13nHU“

Never mind “the strain on healthcare funds,” what about the strain on the diabetic individual and his/her caregivers!!

Heres’ a list of what I need and use on a daily basis in order to survive: 2 types of insulin, syringes, refrigerator to keep them cool, as required, a generator for emergency purposes for when the power goes out, insulin pump which requires infusion sets, cartridges, and an adhesive skin tape.

This list does not look too bad, as it is in words, does it? However, as one box of anything gets used, I find it wise for me to order at least three boxes of each item. These items are housed/kept/stored in various places such as a closet, a drawer, the top quarter of a kitchen cupboard, a purse, an emergency home kit, and an emergency car kit. They are everywhere I am! They have to be. In a sense, I buy myself peace of mind and store it in a closet, drawer, box, bag, etc. You get the picture.

Visualize, or try to at least, mounds of such supplies in one of your closets? Do you have the space? Do you have the money to keep this closet full? Do you have peace of mind for yourself or a loved one whose beautiful body is assailed by this disease?

The expense of each and every item is astronomical, truly, to say the least.

“Why Does Insulin Cost More than Ever?” http://www.diabeteshealth.com/“ I found this link to be beneficial.

The items I personally require to function, to live, on a daily basis, with their respective approximated prices, are as follows:

1.Apidra Insulin: $64.00 per vial (dependent on other factors such as shipping costs and suppliers discounts). One vial of any type/brand of insulin lasts me 4 (four) weeks.
2.Levemere Insulin: $80.00 per vial (10 ml, to be used 28 days after opening” as stated with other insulin brands).
3.Box of 100 Syringes: $15.00 http://www.totaldiabetessupply.com/insulin-syringes-and-pen-needles
4.Insulin Pump: $7,322.00.
5.Pump Infusion sets (needles): $129.99 per box of 10 that can last approximately 30 days; http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/product/animas-comfort-infusion-set.
6.Pump Cartridges: $36.50 for a box of 10 cartridges to last 30 days https://estore.animascorp.com/ProductDetail.
7.Adhesive Skin Tape: $51.75 per box of 100 can last a healthy time; http://www.metromedicalonline.com8.Lithium Batteries for Insulin Pump: $6.00/2-pak; http://www.megabatteries.com.
9.Refrigerator (the one I would like to have): $2,500.00.
10.Home/House Generator: $350.00.
11.Insulin and Syringe Cold Carrier: $69.99.
And it does not stop here, believe me!

To conclude, I am sure you get the picture – in more ways than one. This disease is costing these United States of America a tremendous monetary burden. Imagine the cost for the world! Diabetes needs to be cured. The esteemed Dr. Elliott Proctor Joslin of Oxford Massachusetts foresaw this disease as an epidemic before 1946 (see www.mydiabetic soul.com, Chapter 5, page 84) and reported his findings to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Public Health Service at the time. Therefore, “the” cure must be released. I would like to see a cure in my lifetime. I believe in research and researchers. I have researched and I like researching. However, appeals for public funding is not only necessary, but presently a bottomless pit. Contradictory to each other. So, I pray.

Thank you for reading me. Please leave your remarks, they are actually a requirement! My future blogs will be forthwith and available at “mydiabeticsoul.com.” Link others to it!

Andrea K. Roth (aka:A. K. Buckroth) – MA, CA Notary Public, Author, Speaker, etc.

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When I read this I immediately saw a different angle. Keep in mind I am a glass half empty/ realist/ cynic at times but you listed everything that is why we need a cure and I see all the reasons why its probably not a priority. Although I am sure diabetes do leave a strain on the overall economy pharmaceutical sells are one of the biggest money makers especially in the United States. I don’t know how many countless stories I have heard where people do not get insurance coverage even though it is needed or a procedure because of the cost. Some companies even outsource their employees to other countries like India to get certain surgeries performed because it’s about a quarter of the cost and you get more for your money. And think about it when was the last time you went to the doctor and you didn’t leave with a prescription in your hand. Before I was officially diagnosed as a diabetic I kept going to the doctor for various reasons, which of course was all caused by diabetes. But in that time period my blood work was never ran and I was never asked about in my overall health depth. I did however leave with a prescription in my hand every time.
When I start seeing a new doctor the first thing they always want to do is change my diabetes medicine around without really asking me how is it going for me or seeing the results of my blood work. My last endo pushed me several times to get the pump even though I explained the pump does not suit my lifestyle. Instead of trying to work with me and the shots she just kept trying to prove her point. I am not diabetes patient 237, I am a person with a name and I should be treated based on that alone. Then you have the preventative prescriptions, where the doctor prescribes you medicine so you wont developed something. Is that not crazy when think about it. I mean I was prescribed blood pressure medicine because it was good for my kidneys although there was nothing wrong with my blood pressure or kidneys. Whatever happened to the natural supplements like garlic and fish oils that are good for you? When was the last time a doctor told you to take something like some herbs or supplements…that would be never. In addition to doctors and pharmaceutical companies there are nutritionlist, educators, gyms /personal trainers, food companies and diet companies like Weight Watchers who all profit as well. There is BIG money in long term medical needs like diabetes and there are too many hands that profit and although the part of me that believes the good in people is hoping for a cure, the cynic in me who sees the big picture is not holding her breath.

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“Rye” - Excellenty written. From one diabetic to many, many others, I jhave become a self-proclaimed spokesperson through my book (mydiabeticsoul.com) and the Global Diabets Awareness community. I mention the economics. And, I pray. I pray a lot. Thank you for your response. I understand and appreciate your life. Truly…

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It’s just a poor system. Read somewhere that 10 percent of the people have 90 percent of the money. That means that the rest of us(90 percent) have to struggle to try and receive enough cash to exist. In 2009, I had about 5100.00 worth of medical expenses and got 1700.00 as a deduction on my taxes. In 2010 I had 5500.00 expenses and while I haven’t yet seen the completed tax form I presume it will be about 1800.00 as a deduction. Expenses include insulin(2 types), needles, CGM sensors, BGM strips, and 2 medications the doctor figures I should be on. It will never happen but what I would like to see happen is the tax system give about 130 percent of medical as a deduction to balance out for the years it has been unfair. I know that there is a difference between what is paid in the US for supplies and what I pay in Canada. My strips cost me 79.99 if I just buy them and I believe that in the US the same strips are 59.99.

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I know what you are saying. However, add the cost of other chronic conditions, those medicines are not cheap. I am talking in terms of Cancer and Cardiac in addition to Diabetes. Then add social security and medicare costs.
There is no stopping when you also add the cost of keeping a roof over your head and food on the table.

Now our uninformed government is about to cut social security and medicare benefits. Talk about stress, just count the days before this country divides even more. If you stop and listen, there is no such thing as “by the people, for the people”. There is more available to this not of this country. Just read the papers and watch the news. Greed is the motto of to many people sitting behind the desk of drug companies, manufactures of D. supplies and food chains. The writing has been on the wall for four years now. God Bless Us All.

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To my commenters: I agree and have been aware of many of the facts you have mentioned. It is frightening: the costs, the stress factors that will sicken me anyway, the medicare cuts, etc.
I am at a loss to a positive outcome myself. I blame the pharmaceutical companies for their greed and their supporting the U. S. government’s greed. This is not a win-win situation whe nmillions of people are sick and dependent. Euthenasia.
Fate will have its way!

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AK Buckroth - You blame the Pharmacutical companies?? Shame on you they have brought us great improvements in our caree. Better insulins, Insulin pumps Continuoys glucose monitors etc. With out these improvements we would have an average life expectancy of 30 years. I think it is great that the pharma companies invest in the research to develop all these items we can use. Perhgaps your ire should be bented at the absence of universal health care coverage? Ifr we get angry at Pharma and take their source of revenue, there will be no more improverments in our care.

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Great pharmaceutical companies, yes. Outrageous pricing, YES!!!

My Lantus costs $45,199.31 per gallon mail order or $52,549.06 at Walgreens. Novolog is $48,585.74 per gallon mail order or $56,468.85 at Walgreens.

These numbers are based on a quote I received yesterday, 12 February 2013.

There is no way on God's green earth that these numbers are justified. If we all just accept it, we are the problem.

My 2¢ worth.