I was diagnosed with kidney failure at 34. I lacked formal education about the disease, and within a year I began losing my sight to diabetic retinopathy. I’m now legally blind and depend on others for daily tasks. It’s been a difficult journey, but I’ve grown as a person throughout it.
Patients like me shouldn’t have to worry about finances. I’m lucky enough to afford dialysis, a frequent treatment that filters my blood since my kidneys can’t, since it’s covered by Medicare and charitable donations. I remember paying out of pocket for a few months at the beginning of my treatment; it was financially distressing.
Medicare only covers 80% of the costs. Many dialysis patients under 65 rely on employer-provided insurance or Medicaid. For those who don’t have either, many states provide the option of affordable Medigap plans, which supplement the 20% that Medicare doesn’t.
Texas offers limited Medigap plans for younger patients, with sky-high premiums that are out of reach for most. Texas needs to step up and prevent suffering Texans from falling into financial disarray.
I urge my state legislators, Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-27, and Rep. Oscar Longoria, D-35, to step into our shoes. Imagine enduring four-hour sessions three times per week while wondering how to afford the next treatment. Supporting House Bill 2516 and Senate Bill 1945 would ensure that dialysis patients under 65 without Medicaid or employer coverage can avoid medical debt and despair.
Patricia Benavidez-Patel, San Benito, Texas
