Economic Effects of Diabetes on the Elderly
Economic effects of diabetes on the elderly
Diabetes has been described, by doctors, as a metabolic disease in which the patient has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body 's cells do not respond properly to insulin. The overall management of diabetes for older adults would be the same as management for younger adults. Nutritional management is essential for older adults primarily to control malnutrition and the patient being underweight. For older adults, diabetes can not only be difficult for their overall health but also can cause financial hardship. I’ll discuss how Medicare and Medicaid help elevate some of the financial burden that the elderly may incur from the high cost of medication and also how cuts in both Medicare and Medicaid will affect the overall health of a segment of the population in this country. Nutritional management and the cost of medication can be a serious burden for older adults. Older adults use the combination of Medicare and Medicaid to pay for treatment. As with other chronic diseases, tremendous interests in the economics of diabetes continue. Politicians, health care providers, and policy makers all play a part in the economics of diabetes. In 2007, the total costs of healthcare expenses for diabetes were 174 billion dollars. “Medical costs attributed to diabetes include $27 billion for care to directly treat diabetes, $58 billion to treat the portion of diabetes-related chronic complications that are attributed to diabetes, and $31 billon in excess general medical costs. The largest components of medical expenditures attributed to diabetes are hospital inpatient care (50% of total cost), diabetes medication and supplies (12%), retail prescriptions to treat complications of diabetes (11%), and physician office visits (9%)” (Petersen, 2011). Medicare covers for the same type of supplies for people with diabetes whether or not
Diabetes has been described, by doctors, as a metabolic disease in which the patient has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body 's cells do not respond properly to insulin. The overall management of diabetes for older adults would be the same as management for younger adults. Nutritional management is essential for older adults primarily to control malnutrition and the patient being underweight. For older adults, diabetes can not only be difficult for their overall health but also can cause financial hardship. I’ll discuss how Medicare and Medicaid help elevate some of the financial burden that the elderly may incur from the high cost of medication and also how cuts in both Medicare and Medicaid will affect the overall health of a segment of the population in this country. Nutritional management and the cost of medication can be a serious burden for older adults. Older adults use the combination of Medicare and Medicaid to pay for treatment. As with other chronic diseases, tremendous interests in the economics of diabetes continue. Politicians, health care providers, and policy makers all play a part in the economics of diabetes. In 2007, the total costs of healthcare expenses for diabetes were 174 billion dollars. “Medical costs attributed to diabetes include $27 billion for care to directly treat diabetes, $58 billion to treat the portion of diabetes-related chronic complications that are attributed to diabetes, and $31 billon in excess general medical costs. The largest components of medical expenditures attributed to diabetes are hospital inpatient care (50% of total cost), diabetes medication and supplies (12%), retail prescriptions to treat complications of diabetes (11%), and physician office visits (9%)” (Petersen, 2011). Medicare covers for the same type of supplies for people with diabetes whether or not
References: Kumar, S.(2010). Diabetes and Medicare.ezarticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Diabetes-and- medicare&id=637620. Nowicki, M. The financial management of hospitals and healthcare organizations. (2008).Health Administration Press. Chicago, IL. Petersen, M. (2008). Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2007. http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/3/596.full#sec-18 Trapp, D. (2008). Latest Medicare projections renew alarm on long-term sustainability. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/04/14/gvl10414.htm. Volosky, I. (2011). http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/07/26/279430/public-opposition-to- including-medicare-medicaid-cuts-in-debt-ceiling-deal-leads-to-local-protests/?mobile=nc