My Personal Journey with Insurance and Diabetes Management: Why I Chose a Smarter Way

For over 22 years, I’ve been paying into various health insurance plans—about $158,400 in total, with deductibles climbing from $0 in 2004 to $4,500 per person in 2023. Despite being diagnosed as pre-diabetic and diabetic over the years, I have never met my deductible. The only time I came close was when my daughter was born, and even then, I ended up paying $4,500 out-of-pocket for what was supposed to be covered.

This experience has led me to question the efficiency of traditional health insurance, especially when it comes to managing diabetes and pre-diabetes—conditions that affect millions of Americans. I began looking for smarter solutions and found that managing diabetes doesn’t have to be a complicated, expensive process if approached the right way.

How Insurance Falls Short for Diabetes Management

Health insurance is designed to cover catastrophic, low-probability events. However, metabolic disorders like diabetes aren’t sudden—they progress slowly and steadily, demanding continuous care. Insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays don’t align well with these needs. Insurance companies profit when the likelihood of a claim is low, and unfortunately, for many, this means the high-probability costs of managing chronic conditions like diabetes often fall on the patient’s shoulders.

This is where traditional health insurance becomes more of a financial burden than a benefit. You’re paying monthly premiums, but unless you hit a high deductible, the coverage may not even kick in for the very condition you’re trying to manage daily.

The Smarter Choice: STELO CGM and HEALDX

I soon realized that I needed to take a more proactive approach to managing my diabetes, rather than relying on a reactive insurance system. That’s when I discovered STELO CGM and the HEALDX platform, a game-changer in how I manage my health

Here’s why it made sense:

1. Prevention and Reversal

Diabetes is both preventable and reversible with the right intervention, but it requires continuous monitoring and lifestyle adjustments. With STELO CGM, I can see my glucose levels in real-time, allowing me to make daily decisions that positively affect my health. No waiting for insurance approvals or jumping through hoops.

2. Cost Efficiency

Using FSA/HSA dollars to purchase STELO CGM gives me a 20-30% pre-tax savings—a massive relief when you consider how much out-of-pocket expenses could add up over time. The best part? There’s no need to visit a doctor to get the device or worry about co-pays and deductibles. You take control of your health without constantly relying on your insurance company to decide what’s covered.

3. All-in-One Health Management

Managing diabetes isn’t just about glucose monitoring. You need to track your nutrition, activity levels, sleep patterns, and much more. The HEALDX platform offers a comprehensive solution:

• Smart scales to track your BMI and vital stats.

• A nutrition app that helps you plan meals according to your glucose readings.

• AI-driven tools to calculate your macronutrient needs for optimal health and diabetes reversal.

• Blood tests to baseline any deficiencies that could impede your progress.