Marvin II, plus "Universal" Health Care

(This is what I was thinking about last Tuesday before Drama Ensued.)

A while ago Marvin the insulin pump fell out of my pocket while I was changing and hit the floor on what must have been a bad angle, because the face plate cracked. Every day the crack grew a little more. It still worked, mind you, but obviously it wasn't waterproof anymore and at some point it was going to split straight in half, so on Tuesday morning I finally got around to phoning Deltec for help.

"My pump has a rather large crack across the faceplate...." I began.

"What's the serial number?" she asked. "The model number? What colour is it?" I answered. "Can someone be at home for the delivery?"

"Delivery--of what?" I asked. "A new pump? That depends on when."

"The delivery company is right in your area, so it'll probably be quick," she said.

"If I can arrange a time I can make sure I'll be there."

"Great. I'll call them right away and they'll probably contact you shortly."

Shortly turned out to mean about fifteen minutes.

"Can you be at home for a delivery?" they asked.

"What, this afternoon?" I had a meeting scheduled. "I could be there at 4:30. Is that ok?"

"We're here for your convenience," he said. "4:30 is fine." I popped by to let the acting manager know I would be leaving early and why, and wasted a few minutes on the Star's website before the meeting was to begin when I saw it: "Ontario to supply type 1 diabetics with insulin pumps."

"One of the plan’s key components will ensure that more than 1,300 adults with type 1 diabetes will have access to free insulin pumps and supplies."

I really never thought they'd do it. They'll give pumps to kids under 18 and help pay for strips and syringes for adults over 65, but if you're anywhere in the middle, who cares, right?

(Don't believe it, a little voice whispers inside. You'll only be disappointed again.)

Wouldn't it be wonderful if it were true--even after insurance pays 80% of my health costs, my prescriptions still cost over $100/month. This wouldn't cover everything. I'd still be on the hook for insulin and strips. But oh my god, if that $200/month for pump supplies disappeared--.

(Don't believe it. Only 1300 adults will get pumps. There are 90,000 type 1 diabetics in Ontario, and even if you consider that children in Ontario already have access to free pumps, that still leaves about 60,000 type 1 diabetic adults. And only 1300 of them will qualify.)

Imagine not having to pick a job based on its health insurance. Oh, god, what a load off my mind that would be while I'm going to school. Not to have to worry about how I'm going to pay for pump supplies. I mean York has a health insurance policy for students but it's not anything like enough to cover pump supplies. Freelancing might even be doable.

(Don't believe it. You might not be poor enough. You might be too healthy. You don't know. There's no information here about how they'll figure out which 2% of type 1 diabetics in Ontario will get insulin pumps.)

Wait a minute, where's the Ontario Ministry of Health press release? There must be something on their website....

It starts in September 2008. Wow, what great timing that would be, right in time for school.

(Don't believe it!)

1,300 per year. That's not as bad, then. They're phasing it in. And I'm not asking for a pump, I have a pump. I just want to know if they will fund the supplies. I have to meet eligibility criteria. What are those? I have to prove I can't manage my sugars with injections? How am I supposed to do that? I haven't been on injections for almost six years.

(Don't get sucked in. You won't get this. Don't hope.)

All of the information on here right now is still about the old program for kids, anyway. I haven't got a clue what this is going to look like for adults. I have an appointment on August 7th with the endo--maybe he'll know by then?

(I can't believe you're falling for this. You know what's going to happen. It won't cover you for one reason or another, and then you'll be crushed, you'll feel like you've lost money that you never really had.)

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At 4:15, Marvin II showed up. He's just as blue as his big brother, and awfully cute. If only he weren't so high-maintenance.

Posted by Andrea at July 28, 2008 8:32 AM under Pins and Needles

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