2018-02-02T12:17:00
(BPT) – Managing finances can seem like a daunting task, and many have a hard time deciphering between necessities and luxuries, such as vacations. People might even take some of these necessities for granted and not consider healthcare costs as part of that. However, a chronic health condition like diabetes can add an extra layer to managing a budget.
With medical costs for people with diabetes two times higher than for people without diabetes1, it’s not surprising that in a recent survey of 500 U.S. adults, ages 26-64, with diabetes and 500 U.S. adults, ages 26-64, without diabetes, more than half with diabetes report the costs associated with their condition have negatively impacted their finances. In fact, of those surveyed, more than two-thirds of employed participants with diabetes are concerned they’ll have to delay retirement specifically because of healthcare costs, and 62 percent of employed participants living with diabetes are concerned health issues will force them to retire before they have the financial resources to do so.2
With managing personal finances often top of mind, it is important for those living with diabetes to have tools and resources to help with budgeting. Roche Diabetes Care Inc. collaborated with Alexa von Tobel*, Founder and CEO of LearnVest.com, a company redefining America’s approach to personal finance, to help give people living with diabetes the ability to focus on their health, not the costs. In a video on Accu-Chek.com, von Tobel shares her advice and tips on budgeting, specifically for adults living with diabetes, which include:
- Creating a budget, mapping out all of the expenses in your life, and dedicating a credit or debit card to diabetes-related expenses to make tracking what you spend even easier
- Dedicating 50 percent or less of total income toward necessities, like groceries, diabetes-related expenses, rent, and transportation
- Putting away 20 percent for the future so you are left with 30 percent for personal expenses
Another tool for those living with diabetes to help with managing budgets is the Accu-Check® Guide SimplePay program.3 With the program, people with diabetes can have a savings solution that maintains a low cost for test strips to help them focus on what is best for their health, not what it costs. The Accu-Chek® Guide SimplePay program is designed to help make managing diabetes more affordable for the millions of Americans living with diabetes by guaranteeing a low price for test strips every day. To utilize the SimplePay program, patients can sign up by answering a few short questions at www.Accu-Chek.com, and hand the SimplePay card to their pharmacist, along with their test strip prescription to start saving.
To learn more about budgeting tips from Alexa von Tobel, check out her video on www.accu-chek.com. While there, you can also learn more about the Accu-Chek® Guide SimplePay program and download the free SimplePay card.
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1 https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/library/socialmedia/diabetes-infographic.pdf
2 The Roche Diabetes Care Survey was conducted online by Wakefield Research among U.S. adults ages 26-64, 500 of whom are currently being treated for diabetes and 500 who aren’t, between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1, 2017. The margin of error was +/- 4.4% for each audience.
3 The card is not insurance; it is a cash discount program and cannot be combined with any form of health insurance. Those insured by any government healthcare program, such as Medicare, Medicaid, the military or VA, are NOT eligible for this offer. Insurers may offer a lower cost option. 30- or 90-day Accu-Chek Guide test strip prescription required. Limit 12 vials per refill.
Refills cannot be dispensed before 75% of previous days’ supply have elapsed. Program may be changed or discontinued at any time.
*Alexa von Tobel is a paid spokesperson for Roche Diabetes Care, Inc. and Accu-Chek®.
**Roche Diabetes Care, Inc. is not providing financial, investment or tax advice. You should consult with your professional financial adviser to determine what is best for you.
Accu-Chek®, Accu-Chek® GUIDE and Accu-Chek® GUIDE SIMPLEPAY are trademarks of Roche.