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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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!

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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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Georgia Medigap Legislation Passes First Hurdle

2025-02-27T14:59:05+00:00February 25th, 2025|Categories: Article, Medicare Advantage, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

On February 24, HB 323 was unanimously approved by the Health Committee of the Georgia House of Representatives. Sponsored by State Representative Karen Mathiak (R-82), this legislation will provide affordable access to Medigap coverage to the under 65 Medicare eligible population. DPC Patient Ambassadors Kristi Flynn and Christopher Richards shared their stories with the committee, helping legislators understand the unique challenges faced by both kidney transplant and dialysis patients. HB 323 will now go to the full House for consideration, and if approved, moves over to the Senate. Thank you, Kristi and Christopher, for traveling to Atlanta to advocate for all [...]

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Building Momentum: DPC’s Growing Patient Ambassador Network

2025-02-27T15:04:29+00:00February 10th, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Medigap Coverage, Patient Ambassadors, Policy Issues, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care, State Advocacy|

By Yolonda Brisbane, DPC Grassroots Manager Since I began my role as Grassroots Manager for Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) in April 2022, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the growth of something truly special—the Patient Ambassador Program. This network of DPC members from across the country is dedicated to amplifying their voices and making a real difference. Turning personal health challenges and difficult experiences into action, they advocate for better care for the kidney patient community. In addition to their ongoing advocacy efforts, DPC Patient Ambassadors take part in Advocacy Day in Washington, DC, meeting with lawmakers to push for positive [...]

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Letter: Dialysis patients deserve better

2025-01-16T18:28:37+00:00October 4th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

I remember being diagnosed with kidney disease in 2012 and beginning peritoneal dialysis in 2014. It was an undoubtedly difficult period in my life. Fortunately, I could continue working full time, which allowed me to keep my private insurance. Although Medicare became my primary plan, my private insurance covered 20% of the bill that Medicare did not. My private insurance also broadened my access to treatments and medications. Most patients on dialysis are not well enough to continue working and rely entirely on public assistance. Patients must pay 20% of the bill in states without an affordable Medigap plan to [...]

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Preserve health protections

2024-10-03T19:11:31+00:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

To the editor: I’ve had kidney troubles ever since I was born. It’s been exhausting managing my health care needs. It became even harder when I began dialysis, the only treatment for kidney failure besides a transplant. Taking care of my health while fulfilling my responsibilities as a mother and a business owner was overwhelming. If you or a loved one have had intensive medical needs, you know how incredibly hard daily life becomes. Eventually, I was able to receive a kidney transplant — only because I have private insurance in addition to Medicare. It’s unconscionable that dialysis patients without [...]

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