Diabetes Information [Return To Home Page]

I Have Diabetes or Another Chronic Condition - Should I Use an HSA?


Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are becoming quite popular for people who are generally healthy. But what about sick people? What about people who have chronic conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or the like? Does an HSA make sense for them?

The short answer is yes.

One of my clients is a diabetic. She is very careful about what she eats and she takes her insulin regularly. She has a tremendous amount of energy and a great outlook on life. She's in her late fifties.

She asked me about the high-deductible health insurance policy and the HSA in my book. We began to work the numbers together.

With a high-deductible plan, she would definitely be paying out-of-pocket for insulin and other supplies every month, to the tune of over eighty dollars. But, on the other hand, she would save $250 on a reduced premium payment.

Once we did the calculation, she and I realized that it made perfect sense for her to switch to a high-deductible policy and use an HSA. Even after paying for her diabetic supplies, she was saving $170 every month, which amounted to $2,040 a year.

What could you do with $2,040 a year, given to you just for changing your insurance policy?

I can think of lots of uses. My client has also thought of lots of uses for that money, believe me! (I think she's saving it for a nest egg.)

Now, whenever she sees me, she points and says "You're the guy who saved me $250 a month!" That's a great feeling.

If you have a chronic condition that requires pharmaceutical drugs or medical supplies or on-going doctor visits, please do this calculation for yourself. Compare the amount that you'd be paying out-of-pocket to the amount of money you'll save with a lowered premium payment each month. You might be pleasantly surprised!

And, of course, if you have a relapse or a catastrophic health event, your insurance policy will kick in once you hit the deductible, and you'll enjoy full coverage after that.

Health Savings Acccounts (HSAs) are a wonderful tool to help you reduce your health insurance costs. They are a perfect fit for the self-employed and the small business. And they are available today! Talk to your insurance agent, bank or financial advisor for more details. Who knows? You might have an extra $250 or more coming into your household next month!

Daryl Kulak is the author of the book "Health Insurance Off the Grid - A Wonderful Way to Use Alternative Medicine and Save Money on Insurance Using the New Health Savings Account (HSA)." The book provides a nine-step plan to get your self-employed or small business health insurance costs under control using a unique approach you won't find anywhere else. The book is available for sale as an e-Book or paperback at the Website http://www.healthoffthegrid.com


MORE RESOURCES:

PhysOrg.com

Mouse Study May Help Explain Fish Oil's Benefits
BusinessWeek
3 (HealthDay News) -- Feeding obese mice omega-3 fatty acids reduced inflammation that can lead to diabetes, a new study finds. Fish oil supplements that ...
Fish oil works against diabetesTimes of India
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Risk Of Insulin Resistance, InflammationBETTER Health Research
Omega-3 fatty acids helps in fight against diabetesDiabetes.co.uk
The Press Association -Science AAAS -Live in the Now
all 54 news articles »


Reuters India

Diabetes drug may keep lung cancer at bay
Reuters
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The common diabetes drug metformin may hold promise as a way to keep smokers from developing lung cancer, US researchers said on ...
Diabetes drug can reduce risk of cancer, researchers findLos Angeles Times
Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Rate in MiceBusinessWeek
Diabetes drug may have cancer usesUPI.com
Softpedia -AFP -Medical News Today
all 224 news articles »


ModernMedicine

A1C Usefulness in Detecting New Diabetes Limited However, for those with ...
ModernMedicine
3 (HealthDay News) -- Testing serum A1C levels is less sensitive for detecting individuals at risk for diabetes than other tests, but can be used for ...
Protein test ups diabetes diagnoses in some racesReuters

all 6 news articles »


Cincinnati Business Courier

Grant aimed at better diabetes care in area
The Detroit News
A large percentage of Detroit and southeast Michigan residents have diabetes. "Information is the lifeblood of medicine," said Dr. David Blumenthal, ...
Cincinnati nonprofit to get $13.8M for health ITBusinessWeek
Metro Detroit gets $16.2 million grant for health information exchange on diabetesCrain's Detroit Business
Feds name last two Health IT grant recipientsComputerworld
ModernHealthcare.com -FierceEMR -Health Data Management
all 64 news articles »


Seer Press

Diabetes Drug Might Fight Cancer
U.S. News & World Report
An ancient herbal remedy that constitutes the active ingredient in a modern diabetes drug may soon play a new role in ...
Diabetes Drug May Prevent Lung CancerdBTechno
Metformin Might Prevent Colorectal, Lung CancersMedscape
Metformin result shows everything old is new againSmartPlanet.com (blog)

all 9 news articles »


Baltimore Sun (blog)

Father, son hike Kilimanjaro for juvenile diabetes
Baltimore Sun (blog)
A father and son team are spending the next 14 days hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Arusha, Tanzania to raise money for juvenile diabetes. ...

and more »


Science Centric

60 Diabetes Seconds May Prevent A Diabetes Life
Huffington Post (blog)
Given the statistics, no matter where you live, no matter your age or race, fat or thin, you may get diabetes. Did you know type 2 diabetes is the fifth ...
Diabetes 'could become epidemic'BBC News
The gold standard for tackling diabetesNorth Shore Times
Optimizing Treatment for Type 1 DiabetesEmpowHer (blog)
Daily News & Analysis -WatertownDailyTimes.com -Los Angeles Times
all 40 news articles »


Obesity runs Cali a $21B tab, and $24B for diabetes
Cardiovascular Business
Rates of obesity and diabetes in California are well above the national targets and goals. In the state, costs related to obesity are reported to be $21 ...
'Diabetes wave' set to strikeStuff.co.nz
UCLA Study: Rising Obesity Rates in North StateKHSL
Photo: Health.comEat, Drink and Be (blog)

all 6 news articles »


Modesto Bee

UCLA Study Finds Rising Levels of Obesity, Diabetes in California
California Healthline
Nearly 60% of California adults are overweight or obese and almost 8% of adult residents have diabetes, according to a recent report by the UCLA Center for ...
Stanislaus County struggles with worsening obesitySacramento Bee
UCLA data shows increase in diabetes, obesity in stateDaily Breeze
Diabetes On The Rise In CaliforniaKPBS
UC Los Angeles -Fresno Business Journal -ScienceBlog.com (blog)
all 80 news articles »


Washington Post

Agent Orange cases may cost billions more
Washington Post
More Vietnam veterans are being compensated for diabetes than for any other malady, including post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss or general wounds ...
Vets' Agent Orange diabetes claims soarBoston Herald
Diabetes now tops Vietnam vets' claimsThe Associated Press
If it can happen in the US, why not Canada?Daily Gleaner
NewsBusters (blog) -Paris Post Intelligencer -Veterans Today Network
all 660 news articles »

Google News






home | site map
© 2006