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Bitter pill: The cost of health care in the U.S.
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From a Type I Diabetic – Costs are crushing even WITH medical insurance!
Over the years I have been covered by one employer sponsored medical and dental insurance plan or another but EVEN WITH medical insurance healthcare costs are getting so high and increasing much faster than cost of living increases it is becoming crushing. I am 50 years old and have had Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 1. As many of us may know either directly or indirectly having a US diabetic of about 8%, it is very important to take good care of yourself with this potentially deadly disease. Of course, good care = more $$$. Following is a breakdown of what my out-of-pocket costs are in a typical year for my BASIC healthcare, including additional lower cost chronic conditions I have (under active thyroid, acid reflux) and more typical health and dental care costs. These health conditions were not brought on through any fault of my own - they are due to circumstances beyond my control. In addition to good diet, medication and doctors’ care I receive, I also make it a point to be physically active – this can add to the cost of healthcare since sports related injuries are more common. However since the benefits of physical activity are so important to me I wouldn’t want to live without them.
Here’s a breakdown of what I may spend on out-of-pocket costs in a typical year, one where I don’t have any out-of-the-ordinary issues. Employee responsibility towards medical and dental premiums - $1500, insulin copays – $480, blood glucose test strip copays – $300, insulin pump supply coinsurance - $400, low cost supplies which are a necessity in treating low blood sugars (juice, soda, candy) - $500, copays for semi-annual trips to the endocrinologist - $60, annual diabetic eye exam copay - $35, generic acid reflux med copays - $60, generic thyroid med copays - $60, 1 annual visit to Internist for virus, etc - $15, artificial tears which are a necessity in treating dry eye - $120, typical OTC meds like cough syrup, antibiotic - $20, copays for orthopedic visits - $120, dental work - $150, medical insurance deductible - $500, dental deductible - $50, mileage - ????. Total annual out of pocket costs for the above = > $4370. And then there are the costs incurred during years when I experience not so typical health issues - I had to get 2 teeth capped - $750, and coinsurance payments for carpal tunnel surgery as a last resort treatment when less costly conservative options failed - $500.
Until several years ago I didn’t have to pay a “coinsurance” payment in addition to “copays” for medical care and it has doubled from 10% to 20% recently, and my annual deductible went from $100 to $500 in the last year! Why??? My monthly insulin copay went from $20 to $40. Why do the increases have to be so severe? Some of the above are pre-tax and post-tax costs, and now there is less we can pay for with pre-tax dollars through HCRAs. If I can I will use mail-order pharmacy services in an effort to reduce copay amounts but the mail-order service makes so many mistakes it has actually increased the costs and is so frustrating to deal with. You can see that I can spend $400/month just on healthcare, that could be money spent on other things (and maybe help make the economy a little better?) . With the way the medical industry keeps draining our pockets – I can’t imagine why the economy sucks. I’m trying to put some perspective on what some of us are dealing with, the above costs are not optional.
Here’s a breakdown of what I may spend on out-of-pocket costs in a typical year, one where I don’t have any out-of-the-ordinary issues. Employee responsibility towards medical and dental premiums - $1500, insulin copays – $480, blood glucose test strip copays – $300, insulin pump supply coinsurance - $400, low cost supplies which are a necessity in treating low blood sugars (juice, soda, candy) - $500, copays for semi-annual trips to the endocrinologist - $60, annual diabetic eye exam copay - $35, generic acid reflux med copays - $60, generic thyroid med copays - $60, 1 annual visit to Internist for virus, etc - $15, artificial tears which are a necessity in treating dry eye - $120, typical OTC meds like cough syrup, antibiotic - $20, copays for orthopedic visits - $120, dental work - $150, medical insurance deductible - $500, dental deductible - $50, mileage - ????. Total annual out of pocket costs for the above = > $4370. And then there are the costs incurred during years when I experience not so typical health issues - I had to get 2 teeth capped - $750, and coinsurance payments for carpal tunnel surgery as a last resort treatment when less costly conservative options failed - $500.
Until several years ago I didn’t have to pay a “coinsurance” payment in addition to “copays” for medical care and it has doubled from 10% to 20% recently, and my annual deductible went from $100 to $500 in the last year! Why??? My monthly insulin copay went from $20 to $40. Why do the increases have to be so severe? Some of the above are pre-tax and post-tax costs, and now there is less we can pay for with pre-tax dollars through HCRAs. If I can I will use mail-order pharmacy services in an effort to reduce copay amounts but the mail-order service makes so many mistakes it has actually increased the costs and is so frustrating to deal with. You can see that I can spend $400/month just on healthcare, that could be money spent on other things (and maybe help make the economy a little better?) . With the way the medical industry keeps draining our pockets – I can’t imagine why the economy sucks. I’m trying to put some perspective on what some of us are dealing with, the above costs are not optional.
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