The costs of managing diabetes can be overwhelming, especially for people who don’t have access to a private medical insurance plan. These costs include medications as well as diabetic equipment such as needles, testing strips, lancets as well as insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring supplies.
Expenses such as these can make it difficult for people with diabetes to manage their condition effectively. This can result in short-term complications such as hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as well as long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney disease and eye disease.
Healthcare system and personal costs of diabetes
The costs of diabetes incurred by provincial and local healthcare systems, and to individuals who manage the condition, can be very high. A 2017 study found that, over a 10-year period, new cases of diabetes are estimated to result in approximately $15 billion in Canadian healthcare costs, almost two-thirds of which will be spent on acute hospitalizations and physician services.
Diabetes Canada estimates that the majority of Canadians with diabetes struggle with the costs of managing their diabetes, often spending more than 3% of their income to treat their diabetes. Many medications and supplies that people require are not covered unless they have an extended healthcare plan.
For most people in Canada, diabetes supplies are covered through public (government) or private insurance plans. However, due to insufficient coverage, many people still have to pay high out-of-pocket costs. It’s estimated that people will pay up to $5,000 per year out of pocket, depending on how they manage their diabetes.
Addressing the costs of diabetes
Health Canada covers diabetes supplies and medications for First Nation and Inuit populations, as well as active and retired military personnel.
For people not included in these categories, some provincial programs may be available to assist you with medical coverage. Click here for a listing by province of the programs and resources available in your area.
You can also check the Diabetes Canada and Diabetes Québec websites to learn more about medical coverage provided by provinces.
Other sources of financial assistance that you may be eligible for include:
- Patient support programs. Some pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturersoffer patient support programs that can assist you with the costs of medicine and diabetes supplies. Access to these programs is generally based on income levels. Application forms can be obtained from your diabetes healthcare team or from the company directly.
- Diabetes Education Centres may be able to provide samples of diabetic supplies as long as your family physician or endocrinologist supports this arrangement. Ask your diabetes healthcare team if this is something they offer.
- Disability tax credit. The disability tax credit is available from the Canada Revenue Agency to all Canadians with type 1 diabetes. Click here to learn how to apply for and receive it.
- Other tax credits. You may be able to claim some diabetes-related expenses when you file your annual tax return to the Canada Revenue Agency. Some deductible expenses include:
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- Medical expenses tax credit. If you paid for healthcare expenses, you may be able to claim them as eligible medical expenses.
- Travel expenses. If you had to travel at least 40 km one-way to access medical services not available in your community, you may be able to claim public transportation costs or vehicle expenses.
- Child disability benefit. This provides a tax-free benefit up to $2,685 per year for families who care for a child under 18 who suffers from a severe and prolonged impairment of their physical and/or mental functions.
- Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). Similar to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, the RDSP helps people with type 1 diabetes (or their parents) plan for their future. Contributions can be made to an RDSP until the end of the year in which the beneficiary turns 59.
The costs of diabetes medications and supplies can be overwhelming. However, there are resources in your community that you can access to help ease your financial burden.
