Words by

Nanna Árnadóttir

@nannaarnadottir

Icelanders with otherwise near perfect health but type-1 diabetes cannot obtain health insurance in Iceland without paying 200% more, reports Vísir.

“Naturally I think that this is unfair,” said Sigríður Jóhannsdóttir, chairwoman of the Icelandic Diabetes Association. “It’s been proven that an individual with diabetes could be even healthier than someone without any registered illnesses. It’s unjust and unfair that not everyone is treated equally.”

Roughly 7000 Icelanders have diabetes and of those, 15% have type-1 diabetes. Sigríður said the higher cost of insurance for diabetics puts a strain on young people and families struggling with debt.