I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that gluten-free pastas and baked goods are more expensive than regular products. (We have some suggestions for curbing the extra costs.)
Earlier this week, a newspaper in New York called the Albany Times-Union ran an article about a man with celiac disease whose insurance company had been reimbursing him for the difference between the cost of normal food and gluten-free food. As of January 1, 2008, the insurance company would no longer pay. On the newspaper’s “Read and React” page, there’s been a spirited discussion among readers over the question, “Should health insurers be required to reimburse for special diets for clients with celiac disease?”
What do you think? Should insurance companies have to reimburse for all or part of the extra cost of gluten-free food? Add a comment below, or in our forum.
YES! I was just diagnosed with CD and I have been slowly killing myself eating Gluten. I am just at the beginning of changing my diet and turning over to a GF life and the costs are limiting my ability to do so. Five dollars for bread and 7 dollars for 4 cups of GF flour is impossible for someone on my income to afford. Will I have to keep slowly killing myself because I cannot afford the right food? Its not an allergy.. this is a medical disease. I need help.
Yes, insurance companies should cover the cost of gluten-free foods. Prescription plans pay for medicines, and most insurance companies pay for preventive care. Why should celiac disease be treated differently since a GF diet is the only “treatment”? Untreated celiac disease can create a greater risk of other serious illnesses and ongoing health problems that can compromise the quality of life, costing the insurance company more dollars in the long run.
Finally at 59 I am finding the ral truth as to allergy and illness since childhood. Since there is no pill to cure the problem, I agree insurance should make allowance for this disease. I just recently read you can use your excess food bill for deduction on income tax but heck you need to be able to accord this stuff and why is it so expensive. I leave Whole Foods with 2 bags not full either and always over 200. Just my greek yogurt and a few other gluten free items.
I have Celiac disease as well, I would like to have an insurance company reimburse me, but it’s not vital.
Gluten free is expensive, but there are ways to greatly reduce costs. Amazon.com ALWAYS has excellent prices on gluten free items. Buy the flours themselves and make your own mix. Cookies are great to have, but you don’t have to buy them. You can make them pretty easily.
Use coupons if you’re going to buy things. Use the internet to search for them or call a company and ask them to send you some. They’re more than happy to do it.
Again, I can’t say this enough MAKE YOUR OWN OR USE AMAZON!! An example: Xanthan gum, arguably the most expensive part of GF baking, is $11-15 at Whole foods for a small package. I went to Amazon and paid $15 for 4- 6 ounce containers. That’s enough xanthan gum to last me a year.
Go to asian and ethnic markets and buy your flours there. They’ll cost a 1/10th of what you’d pay for Pamelas mix.
Jenean, stop eating any gluten containing products immediately. Just because you can not afford the gluten-free versions of foods does not mean you have to eat the toxic ones.
Jenean, I’d like to know how you’re doing. Also, where do you live, if you don’t mind my asking? The prices you quoted were even higher than what I see here in the U.S. northeast. Have you found a way to get what you need?
Have you tried any of these ideas for cutting costs?
Of course, I’ve been on this diet for years now, so I’m at a completely different stage of adjustment, but I’ve dealt with the higher costs of gluten free products largely by learning over time to include less and less bread and pasta, etc., in my diet… but that’s not easy to do when you’ve just been diagnosed.
Let me know how you’re doing. Eating gluten because it’s cheaper is not the solution!
absolutely not, the idea is ridiculous
I have Celiac and am very understanding of people who cannot afford the added exense. However, some insurance companies won’t insure you if they find out you have Celiac, DH, etc. If we push to have our foods covered, we will increase the risk of not being able to be insured. If you have a low income, investigate how to get your food covered as a tax deduction.
My two children and I have celiac disease. I am very frustrated by the high prices. Prior to our diagnosis two years ago, I used to bake all the time, now it is a rare treat when the kids have baked goods. When we attend birthday parties for my in-laws children I try to bake a cake at home the day before and bring a piece for my kids. My sister-in-laws mother always has to “make fun” of us for this. They need to be more sensetive, the GF diet is hard enough!
Why do we always want someone else to pay? Good wholesome food is medicine for lots of aliments. Nutritional supplements are beneficial for many diseases and insurance companies don’t pay for that. Many babies require special formula, many cancer patients require special food, etc.
I absolutely feel that gluten free products should be subsidised by the insurance carrier. I am British and growing up in the UK on a gluten free diet my “special” food was available by prescription. As a child under the age of 16 all of my gluten free supplies were absolutely free of charge from the local pharmacy. Once I turned 16 I only had to pay the small prescription co-pay to pick up my goodies.
Surely gluten free products could be distributed in the same way here in the United States?
Hi, I was recently called into a parent teacher conference for my son age 5 who is having trouble in school. The teacher seemed to think a glutten diet would help him so we agreed to try it but we cannot afford the the cost because we are a low-income family on med assistance. We cannot afford insurance so what makes them think we can afford a glutten diet! Absolutely this is a problem! We are getting second opinions from the doctors to be sure and hopefully we can find other AFFORDABLE options! I have written my congressman regarding the issue also my recommendation is a meal plan card that can be used at health stores for the purpose of purchasing such foods but different from food stamps. The point is that there are those who will use the card for other items not glutten-free.
YES! I am only 13 and its sad to see that at Safeway, an 8 pack of hamburger buns are 3.79 and at Draegers a 4 pack of GF hamburger buns are 7.99! That’s unbelievable! I have only had CD for a year and its hard to buy things that you really want but are expensive