American Diabetes Association Lends Support for National Cover the Uninsured Week

As the Number of Uninsured Americans Continues to Rise, the Association Continues Its Fight to Ensure That Every Child and Adult With Diabetes Has Access to Health Insurance That Is Available, Affordable, and Adequate

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- In its fourth consecutive year, the American Diabetes Association applauds the efforts of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and others to encourage increased health insurance coverage in America by signing on as a national supporter for Cover the Uninsured Week. For the 46 million people in the United States, including more than 8 million children, who lack coverage, Cover the Uninsured Week aims to raise awareness across the nation of the importance of health insurance in the lives of every American, including those with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association is actively engaged in efforts to ensure that the nearly 21 million children and adults with diabetes in the United States receive adequate and affordable health coverage. For many, the unavailability of this coverage means limited or no access to diabetes supplies, medication, and care. This can lead to serious and sometimes life- threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputations. The cost of treating such complications continues to contribute to the skyrocketing health care costs associated with diabetes. One out of every ten health care dollars is spent on diabetes and its complications. In 2002, the cost of diabetes in America was at least $132 billion.

"We are proud to be a national sponsor of Cover the Uninsured Week," said Lawrence T. Smith, Chair of the Board, American Diabetes Association. "For the millions of individuals with diabetes, as for every American, access to adequate and affordable health insurance is vital. As the number of people with diabetes continues to increase, coverage must expand to everyone in order to keep up with this growth. This week offers us a unique opportunity to strengthen our efforts to ensure that those in need are educated about their health insurance options and get the coverage that they deserve."

The burden of diabetes has reached epidemic proportions. If present trends continue, 1 in 3 Americans, and 1 in 2 minorities, born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. The Association continues to address issues of insurance coverage for this growing population at national, state, and local levels, and serves as a resource for those with diabetes to help them understand their coverage options. Currently the Association is working with other leading organizations including AARP and the American Cancer Society to defeat a proposal (S.1955) that could make health care coverage more expensive for sicker and older workers and eliminate coverage protections for important health screenings and treatments.

The Association has detailed information on health care coverage at
diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/healthcare/insurance.jsp and state- specific information at diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/insurance/overview.jsp. Additionally, the public is encouraged this week to visit the Cover the Uninsured Week Web site CovertheUninsured.org to urge their elected officials to make health care coverage a top priority.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. The Association's advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal funding for diabetes research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, health care for people with diabetes. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

SOURCE American Diabetes Association
Web Site: http://www.diabetes.org
http://www.CovertheUninsured.org

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