Cost of Chronic Disease
January 6, 2009 by Cherie Burbach
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
The fact that diabetes is an expensive disease is not news to the diabetics of the world. Large out of pocket costs are something we struggle with every bit as much as managing our blood sugar.
A new study says that “75 percent of the $2.2 trillion the United States spends on healthcare goes toward treating chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.” Also, the more chronic conditions a person has, the more money is spent. “One chronic condition spent an average $655 out of pocket in 2005, while those with two chronic conditions spent $1,039, and those with three or more spent $1,865.”
This is important news for diabetics, especially because many of us do have two or more chronic conditions. It’s not only the stress of chronic disease but the costs that weigh upon us as well.
