How to Deal With the Medical Care Costs of Chronic Illnesses

This article is about How to Deal With the Medical Care Costs of Chronic Illnesses. Having a chronic illness will introduce a variety of challenges in the way that one lives their life.

These issues could cause a limited range of motion or fatigue and prevent someone from living normally. Some of this can be mitigated through proper care and medication but at a cost. Depending on the illness, medical expenses could range from a few hundred per year to a few thousand.

If your condition is permanent, these costs will add up over your lifetime. So how can someone afford the care needed to treat these illnesses year-round?

Here we’ve listed a few ways to cover the costs so you can live your life as normally as possible.

Insurance

If you have an ongoing illness, insurance options are your best friend. They can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for medications and treatment. Managing the costs can be done through the Marketplace, where insurance options are listed to find which works best for your situation.

Health insurance may not cover everything you need, but most plans will cover basic things such as prescriptions and visits to the doctor’s office. Medicare Part D is a specific health care plan that will cover prescriptions. There is a maximum limit to what it covers, and once you spend over that amount, you’ll need to pay the total amount. Be sure to check what insurance you can get from your employer and compare that to other options to get the maximum benefit.

Budgeting

The ongoing costs associated with your illness will need to be accounted for. You want to be sure that it won’t hold you back financially. The easiest way to do this is to include medical costs in your budget. Once you find a doctor and choose insurance options, you’ll know roughly how much money you’ll need to set aside to pay medical bills.

Unfortunately, there could always be something unexpected that comes up, costing more money. Because of this, giving yourself a bit of cushion is essential in case something comes up. It’s also best practice to have a few thousand dollars as an emergency fund.

If you don’t have money saved up when an emergency happens, you could use a personal loan, make sure the interest rate isn’t too high, and you’re able to handle that cost in addition to your insurance premiums. It’s best to have an emergency fund, so you’re prepared when something does happen.

Non-Profits

Another resource that may provide you with some assistance is non-profits. For example, My Good Days is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “lift the burdens of chronic illness through assistance, advocacy, and awareness.” They cover a variety of diseases and conditions, aiming to ensure as many people get treatment as possible. You’ll have to apply to these programs, but it’s worth sending an application.

Family

If the disease is genetic, others in your family may struggle with the same condition. Lean on your family for advice and tips on adjusting to life with a chronic illness. An older family member might know how to receive financial help from different resources. Have them walk you through various insurance options if you’re confused about which to choose from. The family there for you is significant if your illness will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Community

Getting involved in communities with similar chronic conditions will make things much more manageable. Find a support group that will help one another find resources and keep each other aware of any new treatments that could ease their condition. Check if there are any local resources or support groups you can join if you need to. If nothing is established, you could start your group and invite people or look for a community online.

The International Pain community is devoted to advancing access and quality care to help people suffering from various conditions.

Blog Author: Andrew, Team iPain
Blog Publisher: International Pain Foundation (iPain), iPain Blog