Company Encourages Education, Prevention and Maintenance to Help Reduce Costs for Both Members and Employers
Diabetes affects 29.1 million people in the United States including 8 percent of the U.S. workforce, according to the National Diabetes Education Program. This equates to an estimated $2.45 billion in costs each year. In observance of Diabetes Awareness Month, Harken Health Insurance Company, a health care company that connects access to relationship-based primary care with competitively-priced health insurance, is raising awareness of the economic impact the disease has on the community and how to prevent further health-related complications.
According to the National Business Coalition on Health, medical expenses for those with diabetes are more than two times higher than for those without the disease. However, it is not just the patient that incurs more costs due to the condition; employers spend on average $4,413 more on employees with diabetes compared to those without. These costs can often be due to the indirect effects of the disease, such as increased absenteeism, reduced productivity while at work and inability to work altogether.
The best way to decrease your risk of diabetes is to learn the causes and what you can do to prevent them. Types of care include monitoring your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in addition to regular screenings for diabetes-related complications by primary care physicians. In fact, proper therapy and treatments can significantly drop the risk of diabetes-related complications, including a 40 percent decrease in eye, kidney and nerve disease risk with regular glucose control and a 45 to 85 percent decrease in amputation risk with foot care programs, according to the National Business Coalition on Health.
“The diabetes epidemic has a substantial impact on the Atlanta community, from both an economic and social perspectives. It is easy for people and employers to feel the physical, mental and financial effects of the disease,” says Hogai Nassery, M.D., Atlanta medical director at the Harken Health Centers. “Luckily, there are proven steps that can be taken to prevent and manage diabetes, including healthy eating, exercise and minimizing stress. In some cases, diabetes is unavoidable, meaning regular visits with a primary care provider are vital to maintaining a healthy and productive lifestyle. Diabetes Awareness Month is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the impact the disease has and the options available through regular contact with a primary care provider.”
Harken Health members can receive prevention, management and education services from physicians and certified health professionals at six metro Atlanta Centers. Offering access to these primary care services at the Centers for no additional charge is part of Harken’s commitment to providing its members with the tools to prevent or manage diabetes. For more information on Harken Health, visit www.harkenhealth.com.
About Harken Health
Harken Health Insurance Company is a new kind of health care company that connects relationship-based primary care with competitively priced health insurance plan options. Members receive unlimited, $0 primary care visits at Harken Health Centers; a dedicated, personal Care Team available by phone, email, text or video visits; 24-hour, 7-days a week phone access to Harken Health Center care providers; complimentary health and wellness classes at the Harken Health Centers; and prescription drug coverage. There are currently 10 Harken Health Centers in Atlanta and Chicago neighborhoods. At Harken Health, our goal is “to change what the world expects from health care, one community at a time.” For more information, visit harkenhealth.com.
