November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and nearly 1.3 million Illinois have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association.
People with diabetes represent 10% of the population and an additional 3.4 million people have prediabetes.
Dr. Nicole Brady, chief medical officer for employers and individual businesses at UnitedHealthcare, said the rising cost of insulin is putting many patients in a bind.
“A lot of them may even have to make decisions like, ‘Am I going to buy food for my family this week or am I going to spend money on my insulin?’ So that puts them in a very precarious position,” Brady observed.
A study published last month in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed that one in five diabetic adults ration insulin to save money, a practice that can damage their eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and heart.
The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which passed this summer, caps the cost of insulin for people on Medicare at $35 per month starting in January. It also caps Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year and allows Medicare to negotiate the cost of certain drugs.
Brady added that starting Jan. 1, UnitedHealthcare will offer zero-dollar cost-sharing to people enrolled in fully-insured standard group plans, which would eliminate out-of-pocket costs for certain prescription drugs, including favorite brands of insulin.
“This should reduce the risk of costly hospitalizations and complications from high blood sugar that can be an effect of diabetes,” Brady pointed out. “And overall people should feel better.”
In the meantime, Brady has some tips for improving your quality of life while on an insulin regimen. She advised cutting back on sugary processed foods, limiting alcohol and avoiding tobacco.
“Tobacco and smoking actually decrease the effectiveness of insulin,” Brady pointed out. “We can manage our stress better because stress can raise our blood sugar levels.”
She added that regular exercise can improve your blood sugar levels because working out forces your muscles to use more glucose for energy.
Disclosure: United Healthcare contributes to our health issue reporting fund. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act is already underway and closes Jan. 15.
More than 1.3 million Georgians lack health coverage according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Richard Gordon, an independent insurance broker, says it’s time to do some research and find out what your options are. It’s one of many small businesses that offer community outreach events to help people sign up for coverage online.
Gordon explained that some health plans are more affordable because Congress extended subsidies to lower monthly premiums.
“We try to explain what the Affordable Care Act is, how you can qualify for tax credit grants to help pay for insurance, as well as provide instant quotes to people,” Gordon explained. . “They can really see how affordable it can be, depending on their family size, income and the zip code they live in.”
The Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress extended premium subsidies through 2025.
Gordon noted that all health care plans are considered “major medical” plans, meaning they cover hospitalization, doctor visits, lab work, imaging and preventive services. . He added that some insurers have “zero premium” plans this year, meaning the government subsidy covers the full monthly cost.
“A lot of plans have low co-pays for the primary care physician visit and a specialist physician visit,” Gordon pointed out. “We explain to people that their preventive services are provided to them free of charge, so it will be their annual physical exams, mammograms, colonoscopies, cervical cancer screenings.”
He pointed out that diabetes screenings and outpatient surgeries are also covered, but only a few health plans offer dental and vision coverage, so people often buy them as standalone policies. He recommended doing some homework now, as the application deadline is seven weeks away.
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The American Heart Association has developed a series of videos to educate women about heart disease.
The Red Chair series is a series of four episodes of five-minute conversations about an issue related to the effects of heart disease, particularly on women.
American Heart Association Greater Washington Area Board Member Dr. Yolandra Hancock said as someone with a personal and professional connection to heart disease, making the series was important to her. . Since heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among women, she explained how it can happen.
“Women’s symptoms are generally ignored both by us as women and by the medical community,” Hancock pointed out. “A lot of times women experience the symptoms a little differently. We’re so busy taking care of others that we can sometimes overlook the symptoms of a heart attack. We can associate it with something else. We can just assume it’s it is indigestion or anxiety.”
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, causing one in three deaths each year.
Hancock acknowledged that people might see heart health as a challenge, but finds managing heart health can be easier than people think. One way to start, she suggested, is to be aware of the changes that need to be made, such as better diet and increased physical activity. Hancock added that people can work with their doctor to start taking control of their heart health.
Hancock pointed out that one of the biggest challenges in working with heart health is that symptoms are more prevalent when it’s too late to do something about them. Although the first videos are brief, she knows that the Red Chair series has a bright future.
“This particular series is part of a longitudinal information sharing,” Hancock pointed out. “We’ve done the Red Chair series before, but luckily it was my first time participating as a host. But we’ve done them before and we plan to launch ongoing series.”
Hancock’s favorite part about working on the show was how it could help viewers. She added that the videos are timeless for women of all generations and at different stages of their lives.
Disclosure: American Heart Association Affiliate Mid Atlantic contributes to our fund for reporting health issues, hunger/diet/nutrition, poverty issues, and smoking prevention. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Maine requires its hospitals to provide free medically necessary care to its residents as a condition of receiving tax-exempt status, but not all eligible patients apply.
Mainers with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level can apply for charitable funds, but documentation requirements can be tricky for non-English speakers, gig workers, and those without reliable Internet access.
Kate Ende, policy director at Consumers for Affordable Healthcare, said the funds exist so Mainers can get the healthcare they need.
“These programs are available for the uninsured as well as for people who may have private insurance but have very high deductibles or other expensive out-of-pocket expenses,” Ende explained.
Access to charitable funds can help people avoid the heavy burden of medical debt, Ende pointed out, adding that many people would be surprised to learn they are eligible if they just applied.
Four in 10 Americans have medical debt while one in seven adults say they have delayed hospital services due to cost. Yet charitable funds remain underutilized.
A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that half of US hospitals said the cost of providing charitable care was just 1.4% of their operating expenses.
Ende argued that people deserved quality health care and it was okay to seek help.
“People avoid care, cut pills in half, or don’t fill a prescription from their doctor,” Ende observed. “We know Mainers are going without the care and medication they need because of the cost.”
Maine hospitals are required to inform patients of charitable care policies before collecting payment, and Ende noted that some healthcare workers, such as anesthesiologists, perform care in hospitals but are not employees. and would not be covered by any assistance funds.
Patients can find more information at mainecahc.org or by calling the Consumers for Affordable Healthcare hotline at 1-800-965-7476.
Disclosure: Consumers for Affordable Healthcare contributes to our fund to report on policy and budget priorities and health issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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