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Support Medigap Plans

2025-06-04T20:42:29+00:00June 2nd, 2025|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security|

I have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure. My journey began after a serious accident at age 12 caused my kidneys to fail. My mother selflessly donated one of her kidneys, which lasted about eight years. At 20, my body began rejecting the transplant, and I had to start dialysis—a taxing but life-saving treatment done three times a week to filter the blood. The transition was overwhelming. I often rode a bus to San Francisco at 6 a.m. and returned home at midnight. Like many others, I had to adjust to a difficult new normal. After 16 years on [...]

Support a state law that helps those living in an insurance gap

2025-06-04T20:40:12+00:00May 29th, 2025|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security|

I’ve been living with kidney failure since 2019. Like so many Californians, I’ve faced more than just one diagnosis—diabetes, high blood pressure, gastroparesis, gout—and even the amputation of my foot due to sepsis. Dialysis, an intensive treatment done three times per week to keep me alive, has permanently affected my life. But I’ve fought every step of the way to stay strong and keep pursuing my goals. I returned to school at age 37, majoring in nutrition and dietetics to learn how food could help heal my body. I plan on pursuing another degree in sociology as well. Unfortunately, thousands [...]

Medical funding

2025-06-05T15:18:48+00:00May 26th, 2025|Categories: Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security|

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 [...]

Texas Medigap Update – May 2025

2025-05-22T19:46:41+00:00May 22nd, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

Texas House Bill 2516 was unanimously approved by the House Insurance Committee and passed off the House Floor with overwhelming bipartisan support (130-19). This legislation, which will provide affordable access to Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) to individuals who are under age 65 with ESRD, is now in the Texas Senate. HB 2516 recently passed unanimously out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is expected to be heard on the Senate Floor shortly. Throughout the legislative process, we’ve had nearly 20 Texas legislators join author Representative Ryan Guillen to support this important bill. Many thanks to all of [...]

Nevada Medigap Update – May 2025

2025-05-22T17:19:44+00:00May 19th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

After unanimous passage in the Nevada State Senate, the Nevada Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor unanimously approved Senate Bill 292 on May 16th. Sponsored by State Senator Roberta Lange (NV-7), this important legislation will provide access to affordable Medicare Supplement Insurance, otherwise known as Medigap to the under age 65 Medicare eligible population. Currently individuals under age 65 in the state of Nevada who are eligible for Medicare as a result of End Stage Renal Disease or by disability are not able to access Medigap coverage. Nevada resident and DPC Patient Ambassador, Chuck Lizer, shared his story with the [...]

State must guarantee Medigap for dialysis

2025-04-22T18:42:06+00:00April 18th, 2025|Categories: Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security|

I have progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). One day, my kidneys will fail. Dialysis — a life-saving treatment that removes waste from the blood when the kidneys fail — is in my future. Right now, I am doing everything I can to slow the progression of my disease. But one thing I can’t control is whether I’ll be able to afford very expensive dialysis treatment when the time comes. I recently lost my job, which means I lost my private insurance. I bought my own private plan to keep the care I need, but that’s only a temporary fix. My [...]

Letter to the Editor: Expanding Medigap Will Save Lives

2025-04-15T19:30:23+00:00April 15th, 2025|Categories: Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security|

As a dialysis patient and healthcare professional, I urge California’s state legislature, especially Sen. Caroline Menjivar (CA-20) and Assemblymember Nick Schultz (CA-44), to support Senate Bill 242. This bill expands access to affordable Medigap plans for all dialysis patients, regardless of age. Kidney failure comes unexpectedly for most, as it did for me. Kidney failure requires routine dialysis treatment to stay alive while awaiting a transplant, and I spent two years on peritoneal dialysis before receiving a kidney and pancreas transplant. Without reliable healthcare coverage, my transplant wouldn’t have been possible and I would have died simply because I am [...]

Dialysis Patient Citizens Applauds Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation Restoring Protections for Dialysis Patients

2025-03-31T14:14:05+00:00March 31st, 2025|Categories: Article, News, Press Release, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security|

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2025) -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), the leading advocacy organization for dialysis patients nationwide, today released the following statement applauding the introduction of the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (S. 1173/H.R. 2199) to restore access to critical health insurance coverage for patients who choose it. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and it was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), John Joyce (R-PA), and Raul Ruiz (D-CA). “On [...]

Nevada Moves Closer to Medigap for ESRD Patients

2025-03-31T18:39:44+00:00March 28th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medigap Coverage, News, Patient Ambassadors, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

On March 27th, the Nevada Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor unanimously approved Senate Bill 292. Sponsored by State Senator Roberta Lange (NV-7), this important legislation will provide affordable access to Medigap coverage to the under age 65 Medicare eligible population. Nevada resident and DPC Patient Ambassador, Chuck Lizer, shared his story with the committee, helping legislators understand the unique challenges faced by dialysis patients. SB 292 will now go to the full Senate for consideration, and if approved, moves to the Nevada State Assembly. Thank you, Chuck, for advocating for ESRD patients in Nevada!

Expand Medigap Coverage

2025-04-22T18:11:53+00:00March 10th, 2025|Categories: Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Promote Financial Security, Spotlight|

My husband and I have end stage renal disease, or kidney failure, and depend on dialysis to survive. It is difficult for Texans in similar situations to afford lifesaving dialysis, especially people who don’t qualify for Medicaid. Medicare covers only 80% of dialysis costs, leaving many patients responsible for the rest. It can cost thousands of dollars a year without proper coverage. Supplemental insurance plans called Medigap can help fill the gap that Medicare leaves open. However, Medigap plans remain unaffordable for dialysis patients younger than 65. To fix this, Texas must guarantee affordable Medigap access for dialysis patients. State [...]

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