Ep 147 - Chronic Disease Is Expensive — Here's How to Save on Medications with Sally Figueroa

Ep 147 - Chronic Disease Is Expensive — Here's How to Save on Medications with Sally Figueroa

From Type 1 In Midlife: Women Over 40 with Type 1 Diabetes, Hormones, Perimenopause, Menopause, and Blood Sugar Challenges by Melissa Slemp

March 2, 2026 · 45 min · Season 3 · Episode 147

About this episode

Sally Figueroa shares insights on managing chronic illness costs and navigating the healthcare system effectively.

Living with chronic illness is exhausting enough. Add denied claims, surprise bills, $500 copays, and confusing insurance rules—and suddenly managing your health becomes a full-time financial battle. In this episode, I sat down with Sally Figueroa, a mom of four, chronic illness advocate, and founder of Health Savings Expert. Sally lives with Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed at age 12) and Rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud's disease, chronic sinusitis, and the long-term impact of multiple surgeries She's also supported loved ones through endometriosis, Lyme disease, and amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPS). For over two decades, she's been navigating the healthcare system—not just for herself, but for others. And what she discovered? Many of the ways to lower medical costs already exist. They just aren't widely shared. In this conversation, we talk about: Manufacturer copay programs that can reduce prescriptions to $0 Prescription discount cards like GoodRx and how to use them strategically Why insurance doesn't always mean affordable What to do when your medication is denied Organizations that advocate for patients behind the scenes The emotional weight of chronic illness +…

People in this episode

Host: Melissa Slemp

Guest: Sally Figueroa

Topics covered

  • chronic illness
  • healthcare costs
  • medication savings
  • insurance challenges
  • patient advocacy
  • community support

Keywords

  • chronic disease
  • medication costs
  • insurance
  • copay programs
  • patient advocacy
  • healthcare savings

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Health Savings Expert

Products: GoodRx

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