When I began dialysis, I took advantage of Medicare, private insurance and charity funding to pay for my treatment. However, I often speak to other patients who do not have access to supplemental insurance and end up being stuck paying the 20% that Medicare does not cover.
Paying out-of-pocket for dialysis is simply impossible for most Americans.
For years, Marylanders on dialysis could keep their private insurance for 30 months after their diagnosis, which allows them wider treatment options while adjusting to their new normal. However, a recent Supreme Court decision may allow private insurance companies to single out dialysis patients and reduce their coverage within that 30-month period.
With the proper dialysis treatment Americans with kidney failure can live long, productive lives, which is why it’s important that patients have access to full coverage, especially when they first start.
