Guaranteed Healthcare

I am almost 29 years old and have had type one Diabetes for 16 years. Up until I was 25, I was able to get health insurance under my mother's work policy. Since I turned 25 I have tried a couple different HMO's, and the search is always long and hard because of the pre-existing condition. I am an independent contractor, and the health insurance through the company I work for would have been $700 a month because of the Diabetes. I was able to find another HMO that only costs $160 a month; however it covers none of my medicines.

Having type one Diabetes, doctors always tell me that I should test my blood sugar at least four times a day, plus I am supposed to take two different kinds of insulin. Besides, the Lantus and Humalog insulin, I then need needles, test strips, lancets, and needle tips (the Humalog comes in a pen). I shouldn't say none of my medicine is covered, because the Lantus is, and the co-pay is $50 a month because there is no generic form of insulin.

All together my medical costs are about $500 a month, and that is cutting corners. The insurance company doesn't think that Humalog pens are a necessity, so they won't cover them at all. They have never had to explain to a security guard why you have to carry syringes in your purse, or had to take a shot before you eat any meal that is more than a couple grams of carbs. The Humalog pen makes my life with Diabetes a little easier. These pens cost $185 for a package of 5(which lasts about three months)in the US. At some stores they are a few dollars less, but I have not found any packages for less than $150.

However, at online Canadian pharmacies I can get the package for $80, with very little for Shipping and Handling. Besides, becoming broke from having to pay every month for a disease I did nothing to acquire, I get persecuted by people at my office. The general public is not educated enough about type one Diabetes to know that I have to takes shots, and no it is not fun. My manager asked me last year if I could not take my medication on the company premises, because one co-worker saw me taking a shot at my desk as was offended. I told him that I was pretty sure I knew a couple lawyers that would tell anyone at our company that what he said was against the American's with Disabilities Act, and that I was also offended that I had to take shots but it was that or die. No one else has said anything since then.

I could probably take better care of my Diabetes if I could afford to go to the doctor more, but each trip is $25 to a specialist, which is what an endocrinologist is, I would rather buy food.