JDRF Campaign Aims to Ensure Reasonable, Predictable Costs and Coverage of All Life-Saving Type 1 Diabetes Treatments

If you feel treating type 1 diabetes (T1D) is getting harder, it’s not your imagination. Costs are soaring. Insurance companies are taking steps to limit choice and coverage of the tools you need to live. This shouldn’t be.

We know all too well how difficult it is to manage this disease. T1D requires attention every minute of every day. Unfortunately, many of us feel that today it’s more difficult to manage T1D than it should be. We hear you. We’re with you. And we’re fighting on your behalf.

You may have seen our 2017 Advocacy Agenda calling for renewal of the Special Diabetes Program research funding, or our statement opposing the U.S. House of Representatives’ health reform bill, which would undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions. But we also need action outside of Washington.

You need insurance coverage that works. That’s why we are asking you to join our campaign to urge insurance companies to do exactly that—provide the coverage that those with T1D need.

After hearing from so many of you, three issues stand out:

• You need predictable and reasonable out-of-pocket costs for insulin and diabetes management tools.
• You should have the freedom to choose the insulin pump that is right for you—not have your insurance company make the decision.
• You should have access to all life-saving technology, which means insurers must cover artificial pancreas systems, which will revolutionize diabetes care for many.

These things are not “nice to haves”—they are essential for people with T1D to survive. When the costs for medication that you need to stay alive fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, or when you can’t access life-saving technology, it makes managing diabetes even more difficult. We’ve heard countless stories of people choosing to go without their insulin pump, or how they share insulin and other supplies to make ends meet. This puts their health—and their lives—at risk. In the end, it also drives up healthcare costs for everyone.

What we’re asking for is not lofty; it’s feasible, and it’s necessary. Insurance companies can take action now. They can help people keep out-of-pocket costs reasonable and predictable; they can commit not to enter into exclusive deals that limit choice; and they can cover artificial pancreas systems. Doing so will make a monumental difference to the 1.25 million people in the U.S. living with T1D.

Now, we need your help. The T1D community is strongest when we’re united, and that’s exactly what we plan to do throughout this campaign. Together, we will call on insurance companies to publicly commit to taking these steps to help you control your T1D.

If you believe insurers have a responsibility to help you control your T1D, join us by showing your support:

1. Sign our petition now and send a message urging insurance companies to provide coverage that works for you. Then, share the petition and ask others to do the same!
2. Share your support and follow us on social media using #Coverage2Control and encourage others to join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To learn more and to find other ways you can get involved, visit Coverage2Control.com.