Diabetes is a chronic condition that can be difficult to manage. It’s a metabolic disorder that affects how your body uses glucose and other nutrients. The good news is that there are many ways you can manage your diabetes and improve your health. The bad news? Managing diabetes isn’t always cheap.

People with diabetes incur average medical expenditures of $16,752 annually, and $9,601 goes to diabetes. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure you stay on top of your medical expenses while still enjoying life with diabetes.

Budgeting

Budgeting is one of the most important aspects of managing your medical expenses. While this may sound obvious, it’s something that many people with diabetes overlook. If you don’t want to be caught off-guard by your finances, you must create a budget and stick to it.

Budgeting can be difficult at first, especially if you’re used to living paycheck-to-paycheck without planning for future medical expenses. But once you make up your mind about what needs to happen, it gets easier over time. 

Government Programs

Several government programs support people with diabetes. You can apply for Medicare and Medicaid, which are federal and state assistance programs. If you do not qualify for the above options, contact your local hospital or social services department to find out what other programs might be available in your area.

Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides medical coverage to people over 65 who meet certain requirements. Medicaid is a state-administered program that offers health care coverage to low-income individuals who meet certain requirements.

Private insurance may help cover medical expenses if you don’t qualify for other government assistance plans. Or if you want additional benefits like prescription drugs or dental coverage beyond what is offered by Medicare/Medicaid or Medicaid/SCHIP plans. However, these plans may require high premiums, so it may be worth researching all options before choosing a private plan.

Payment plans

Payment plans are a great option for those who have trouble paying their bills. It can be helpful for people with diabetes since they often have to pay more than usual for their medical expenses.

Payment plans are available from many companies and can be used for any bill. A payment plan is a way of setting up a payment schedule that works best for you and your budget so that you don’t have to pay everything at once or struggle with high-interest rates on credit cards.

The best part about payment plans is that they’re flexible. You can pay more than the minimum amount due each month if you want to or less if your budget doesn’t allow it; it’s totally up to you.

Employment Benefits

Most people with diabetes are fortunate to have an employer-sponsored health insurance plan that covers the costs of their care. However, this is not always the case. If you or your child has diabetes and does not have medical insurance through an employer-sponsored plan, don’t worry. Other options are available to help manage medical expenses related to this disease.

In addition to health insurance coverage, employers may offer other benefits such as vision and dental plans. In many cases, family members can also use these benefits. Employers’ most common type of benefit is a flexible spending account (FSA). FSAs allow employees to put aside pre-tax income for healthcare expenses such as co-payments or deductibles from their paychecks before taxes are taken out. Thus eliminating the need for individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes who already spend much more than average on their health care costs every year.

Sell Diabetic Test Strips

Selling your diabetic test strips is one of the best ways to manage medical expenses for people with diabetes. Whether you’re looking to make extra cash or free up space in your home, selling unused diabetic test strips is a great option.

Once you’ve collected a lot of unused strips, it’s time to get them into the hands of someone who needs them and secure some cash for diabetic test strips. The easiest way is by selling your diabetic test strips online through an online marketplace like Amazon or eBay. Both sites have sections dedicated specifically to health items so buyers can easily find what they’re looking for without having to wade through all kinds of unrelated products first.

Bottomline

As a person with diabetes, managing your medical expenses is important. You can do this by budgeting, applying for government programs and payment plans, asking your employer about benefits, and looking into cash-back programs for diabetic test strips.

You’ll need to cut expenses wherever possible to set aside money to pay for diabetes medications and supplies. Look over your bills and see what you can do without; maybe it’s not necessary to always have internet access or cable TV. If you’re on a tight budget, this may be a good time to cancel these extras entirely.

If the cost of diabetes medications or equipment seems overwhelming, ask about payment plans from the pharmacy or store where you buy them. A discount might also be available if you pay in full at once instead of paying month-to-month, as most people do with credit cards, so consider using that option instead of signing up for an installment program with interest rates.

It’s important to remember that while the best way to manage your medical expenses is through budgeting, it doesn’t mean that you should stop there. Knowing what other programs or benefits are available is always good to take advantage of them when possible.