The Endocrine Society has signed on as a partner to JDRF’s Coverage2Control campaign, calling on insurance companies to provide better health coverage for the 1.25 million Americans living with type 1 diabetes.
Coverage2Control, launched in May, has the support of more than 52,000 people who have signed JDRF’s petition urging insurance companies to provide coverage that works for people with T1D. Petition supporters come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Once again, the diabetes community has come together to make their voices heard,” says Derek Rapp, president and CEO of JDRF. “People with type 1 diabetes too often face restrictions that prevent them from accessing the tools they need to live. It’s time for insurance companies to do what’s right, and what’s smart for their bottom line: provide the coverage that people with T1D need to stay healthy.”
The Endocrine Society is one of 12 organizations joining #Coverage2Control, along with: the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association of Diabetes Educators, Children with Diabetes, College Diabetes Network, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, Diabetes Sisters, diaTribe Foundation, National Diabetes Volunteer Leadership Council, T1D Exchange, Team Type 1 Foundation and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
“The Endocrine Society strongly supports efforts to secure appropriate insurance coverage for patients with type 1 diabetes,” says Society President Lynnette K. Nieman, MD. “It is vital that patients have access to the potentially life-saving tools they need to manage their diabetes. Additionally, such coverage will help patients spend more time at home with their families and less time in the hospital.”
As the debate on healthcare has stalled in Washington, supporters are rallying around #Coverage2Control to highlight meaningful, realistic actions that insurers can take now to make a difference for the T1D community. These include making out-of-pocket costs for insulin and other life-saving diabetes tools more predictable and reasonable, ensuring people have the freedom to choose the insulin pump that’s right for them, and covering artificial pancreas systems, a life-changing breakthrough that is quickly improving the lives of people with T1D. These three steps will help people with T1D lead healthier lives and ultimately lower costs for insurance companies as costly complications are avoided.
Supporters of #Coverage2Control have actively engaged on social media to highlight the increasing difficulty of managing T1D and how insurers can help. Many have shared personal stories of how, despite new technologies, T1D has become even harder to manage as costs have soared and insurers have limited choice and coverage of life-saving technology. Yet, these limits are short-sighted. Good coverage helps people with T1D avoid costly emergency room visits, inpatient admissions, and other complications. Keeping people healthy and productive reduces overall healthcare costs and is better for the economy.
Loading ...