(date)

(company president or Director of HR) 
Company name  

Dear (Company President or Director of HR),

As you may already know, I have been living with Type 1 diabetes for over (xx) years.  Type 1 diabetes is a life long condition and is characterized by the body's inability to produce insulin.  The primary function of insulin is to convert sugar into fuel for the body.  Since my body does not produce insulin, I need an artificial source to sustain my day-to-day living.  In the past I have been on (x) injections a day to provide this necessary supply of insulin.  

(xx) years ago, my doctor prescribed the insulin pump as a therapy of necessity.  The attached letter from my endocrinologist shows the dramatic improvement in my health since starting on the insulin pump.    The pump has made a tremendous impact on my health. The pump, along with diet, exercise and strict blood sugar monitoring, is a key component to ensuring my long-term health.  The pump has eased my blood sugar fluctuations (and mood swings) by providing a precise, accurate and flexible delivery of insulin.  The advantage of the pump also becomes very apparent when I am participating in the (name a situation, meeting or trip that you attend that put you on an erratic schedule).  In a situation where my schedule can be erratic, and meals times difficult to predict, the pump allows me to maintain excellent blood sugar control, allowing me to focus on the task at hand.  

The insulin pump is a pager-sized device that delivers a continuous flow of insulin.  Numerous studies confirm my own personal experience; the insulin pump significantly improves diabetes control, reduces and/or delays the onset of complications associated with diabetes as a long-term chronic illness.    These studies have also concluded that better control results in reduced employee absenteeism and a reduction in the long-term costs associated these complications.    
The cost of the pump is $6,400 (CDN) and the average cost of supplies is $350 per month.  (name your insurance company) provides a (identify the maximum benefit that the insurance company provides for example $1000 lifetime benefit).  As you can well imagine, I have exhausted this benefit.  I have contacted numerous community groups including the (identify the research that you have done to provide pump coverage for your self such as the Canadian Diabetes  Association, the Assistive Devices Program and the Trillium Drug Program) for assistance in this matter to no avail. 

I have found myself in the uncomfortable situation of having to choose between my long-term health and my immediate expenses.  I truly care about my health and actively spend time, money and energy on keeping the complications of diabetes at bay.  I hope that by bringing this issue to your attention, you will consider amending the current insured benefits contract between (your company name) and (insurance company) to provide realistic coverage for the pump, technological upgrades and supplies.  I understand that decisions made by insurance companies are generally based on cost containment and do not take into consideration the long-term health risks associated with diabetes.

I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you about this issue in further detail and look forward to your positive response.

Sincerely,


Your name 








Did you know? 

While people with diabetes only make up 6 per cent of Ontario's population, we account for 32 per cent of heart attacks, 43 percent of heart failure cases, 30 per cent of strokes, 51 per cent of new dialysis patients and 70 per cent of amputations. Insulin pump therapy greatly reduces the chances of these and other diabetes complications. The Canadian Diabetes Association expects the health care system will benefit from fewer cases of diabetes complications over the longer term (i.e. 10 years or more) if people with diabetes use insulin pumps to maintain better blood glucose levels, thereby also taking fewer sick days or disability leave.

The current costs of diabetes:
* Canada spends an estimated $13.2 billion a year on the direct and indirect costs of diabetes.
* It costs $50,000 a year for kidney dialysis. Kidney failure is a complication of diabetes. 
* It costs $74,000 for a limb amputation. Diabetes is the main cause of non-traumatic amputations.