The Affordable Healthcare Act passed in 2010, known commonly as Obamacare, mandates that individuals have health insurance coverage in place beginning in 2014. Businesses of more than 20 employees are also required to provide coverage for their employees who are deemed full-time beginning in 2015. Managing your diseases, like diabetes (information which you can find on http://www.mediaplanetdiabetes.com) can be easier with access to affordable healthcare options.
Here are some basic tips for dealing with your diabetes and making the most of your Obamacare coverage. These include scheduling annual appointments, controlling your diet, knowing the risk factors for diabetes for your family, shopping for the best insulin supplies and medications, and, increasing your physical activity.
• Scheduling Annual Appointments Obamacare makes access to your doctors easier and more affordable. One of the central arguments for passage of the law was that of access for the 47 million Americans who were uninsured and as a result rarely saw a doctor or received services, except in the case of urgent or emergency care. With an individual mandate to purchase coverage or face penalties in 2014, at least 6 million people have signed up, although the number within the 6 million who were previously uninsured is probably closer to 2 million. Regardless of the numbers, the focus and attention on getting insurance should make it easier to gain access to doctors and schedule appointments needed to monitor one’s health on diabetes.
• Controlling Your Diet A requirement of the law is that of food producers having to provide more detailed nutritional information on products for consumers. This labeling requirement is designed to help you understand what foods you are putting in your mouth and how these foods impact your health. For a person living with diabetes, managing one’s diet is important and an essential part of living with the disease. The requirement for labeling also impacts restaurants and will change the way fast food and other food providers who can sometimes be detrimental to the health of a diabetic prepare their offerings for you.
• Know the Risk Factors for Diabetes (for your family) Because Obamacare promotes prevention over and access, having members of your family checked out for their risk of diabetes can be achieved. Markers for early onset juvenile type diabetes (Type 1) affects 5% of the population and can be detected and treated early on, even though the condition, like adult onset diabetes or Type 2, is a lifelong chronic disease. Understanding the risk factors associated with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and finding solutions with your doctor can help you save money in the long run and potentially save lives.
• Shopping for the Best Insulin Supplies and Medications Individuals, such as seniors, who are dependent on certain supplies needed to control their diabetes can now get these supplies at a lower cost under Obamacare. Medicare has worked to lower the costs associated with such items as test strips, lancets, batteries for testers and control solutions. These costs savings are a negotiated benefit that is attributed to Obamacare and provides a tremendous benefit for you and your wallet.
• Increasing Your Physical Activity The emphasis and focus on preventive measures includes provisions in the law that promote health and wellness programs for companies, physical activity and the support of community bans on certain behaviors in public areas such as smoking. Obamacare also places an emphasis on community based solutions for increasing physical activity, a central goal of pre-diabetic youth and those who are not restrained or limited by their diabetic conditions.
