(NAPSA)—Diabetes is expensive. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the total healthcare costs for a person with diabetes in the United States are two to three times greater than that of a person without the condition. In 1997, the most recent year for which the WHO published a figure, the cost of diabetes in the United States was $44 billion, including direct costs, such as medical care and supplies, and indirect costs, such as employee sick-time, decreased productivity and premature mortality. This number is believed to have increased, both with inflation and the growing prevalenceof the condition. Among the direct costs that affect individuals with diabetes and their families that first come to mind are expenditures such as medical care, drugs and blood glucose monitoring (BGM) devices and supplies needed to maintain health. There also are some less obvious costs, such as payments for health andlife insurance. To help individuals and families manage both the disease and the costs associated with it, Roche Diagnostics, a manufacturer of Accu-CHEK brand BGM devices and supplies, advises people with diabetes—and any other chronic health condition—to get to know their co-pay. “Insurance coverage and reimbursement have become increasingly complicated over the past two decades,” said Nancy Lonsinger, vice president of marketing at Roche Diagnostics. “Coverage and reimbursement are dependant upon a numberof factors, including the patients’ health and age.” “There was a time when some people had traditional insurance @ plans that may have included medical and drug coverage and often, our employers paid our premium and wedidn’t really worry about it. And while the variety of plan options available today allow for a lot of flexibility and choice, it also can be very confusing.” Coverage for drugs, devices and supplies that are sold at retail pharmacies can be particularly perplexing as insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers may have formularies, or preferred product lists, that affect the consumer’s out-of-pocket co-pay charge. “Our research tells us that products covered by insurance rank fairly high on the list of what people really want when they purchase diabetes management products,” said Lonsinger. “But the real benefit isn’t just in coverage. It’s in getting the most out of yourpolicy.” Among the five top BGM products, Accu-CHEK test strips have the lowest national average co-pay at $11.86. Out-of-pocket patient costs for other top brands range from 4.6 percent to 35.2 percent higher, on average. Furthermore, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has found that the higher the co-pay, the less frequently people with diabetes test their blood glucose level, an important aspect of managing their disease. This leads to poorer health outcomes. “Bottom line, the cost to families is not just in dollars and cents,” said Lonsinger. “We know that actively managing your health can help to improve—even save—lives.” For more information on understanding your insurance policy and benefits for BGM products, visit www.accu-chek.com.
