Rising out-of-pocket costs for people living with diabetes are hitting hard across the globe.
Since 2001, in one country, Diabetes Canada (DC) has tracked the out-of-pocket costs – costs assessed after reimbursement by public insurance programs – of managing type 1 diabetes and added type 2 diabetes in 2003 based on specific composite case studies (“Janet” for type 1 and “Peter” for type 2).
This analysis allowed DC to illustrate the impact that the out-of-pocket costs of diabetes have on people with diabetes in each province and territory for individuals with similar circumstances based on available public insurance and funding of diabetes medications, devices, and supplies.
CAPTION: “Far too many people living with diabetes in Canada are being forced to choose between managing their, or their child’s, condition or putting food on the table or paying the rent.” President and CEO of Diabetes Canada, Laura Syron.
Today, DC is able to claim with compelling evidence that too many people living with diabetes are paying increasing costs for prescribed medications, devices, or supplies making the funding of the Diabetes Framework introduced by Sonia Sidhu MP all the more important.
Living with diabetes in Canada, as elsewhere, continues to be marked by health inequity as out-of-pocket costs are especially acute for lower income groups and people affected by type 2 diabetes, which also disproportionately impacts people of African, Arab, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous or South Asian descent.
While government support is highest for low-income groups, the proportion of family income required to cover costs is also the highest for these groups.
It is estimated that in certain parts of Canada, out-of-pocket costs can be as high as CAN $10,014 per year for people with type 2 diabetes, CAN $18,306 per year for people with type 1 diabetes.
The President and CEO of DC, Laura Syron, commented: “As the affordability crisis worsens in Canada and people struggle to afford basic needs, I fear we will begin to witness poorer health outcomes as people are simply unable to pay for the treatments prescribed by their health-care providers.”
For the full detailed report see the link below.
Advocacy Action: How is the cost-of-living crisis affecting people with chronic medical conditions in your country? Is there additional support? Can you make the case for people whose health will suffer if their incomes cannot keep pace with treatment, medicine and technology inflation? Is there a national framework or plan with targets that could be affected by rising costs? https://www.diabetes.ca/DiabetesCanadaWebsite/media/Advocacy-and-Policy/Advocacy%20Reports/Diabetes-Canada-2022-Out-Of-Pocket-Report-EN-FINAL.pdf