Diabetic – Back-up support lessens the pain
A DIABETIC for the past two decades, Tony (not his real name) has been in a constant battle to keep his condition in check.
Three daily insulin injections have become the norm since he was diagnosed as a Type I diabetic when he was 15. Knowing that it is a lifelong condition, he has fears about whether he will be able to afford the medicine and treatment he needs as the years pass. For now, he gets them from a public hospital.
“I just pay RM5 for every appointment. My medication, which now includes pills for hypertension and cholesterol, is free. But as a diabetic, I need to purchase one type of insulin, which is more than RM200 per month,” he says.
“Previously, I had to buy both, and that came up to more than RM500 monthly because the hospital said there was no quota for one while they didn’t stock the other. Now that they do, at least I save RM300 from this.
“Having a pre-existing diabetic condition, I am not covered by insurance or my company. So I have to make sure that I stay as healthy as possible and also have some savings for when I retire.”
Mental illness
Mike (not his real name) was 17 when he was diagnosed with unipolar depression. He was put on medication but he stopped taking it until about 18 months ago when his psychiatrist diagnosed him as having schizoaffective disorder, a combination of bipolar disorder and psychosis.
Mike is currently on four types of medicines – Prozac (anti-depressant), Lamictal (mood stabiliser), Abilify (antipsychotic) and Dormicum (sedative).
His monthly bill for the medication is RM1,300 while each monthly session with his psychiatrist costs RM200.
“I am completely symptom-free now. It is financially challenging but I have a job,” says the 30-year-old who is in corporate finance.
He says his take-home monthly salary is about RM5,300 but after deducting his car and phone bills and a RM1,000 contribution to his family, he is left with RM200 to RM300.
Mike counts himself lucky that he can afford to pay for medication and treatment because his illness is not covered by insurance or his company. The Masters’ degree holder adds that he is also fortunate to have a supportive family that is financially stable.
Cancer
Alisha (not her real name) is nearing the end of a long and arduous journey, standing solidly behind her daughter Zara, seven, who has leukaemia.
Zara’s chemotherapy sessions, lasting two years, will cease next February and Alisha is thankful the treatment is borne by her husband’s company.
The entire treatment, she says, costs between RM230,000 and RM250,000 at the private hospital where Zara is being treated.
A three-day chemotherapy treatment costs about RM6,000 and an eight-hour chemotherapy session costs between RM1,510 and RM2,720 depending on the drug, she says.
This does not include related emergencies such as when Zara is hospitalised for fungal infection due to her reduced immunity from the chemotherapy. Hospitalisation for this can last up to two weeks.
“She will still need regular blood tests and follow-up visits after the two years,” she says.
Financially, Alisha worries about coverage should her husband decide to switch jobs and Zara’s illness is not covered by the new employer.
“What will happen to us? We have been lucky that we have not needed to go around asking for donations or borrowing money from family and friends.”
This site is hosted by (click on the graphic for more information)
Return from Diabetic to Home Page
Major thankies for the post.Thanks Again. Really Great.