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Congress: Please stand up for Minnesotans on dialysis

2024-09-17T18:33:04+00:00September 13th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

When I was serving as my father’s caregiver through his dialysis treatments, I was struck by how difficult it can be to navigate the health insurance landscape. I was constantly on the phone with Medicare and the VA to ensure he was covered. Dialysis is an essential treatment that extends someone’s life and keeps them healthy, which is why it shouldn’t be hard to get proper coverage. Yet instead of becoming easier for patients, it’s getting even more complicated. The Supreme Court recently ruled that private insurers may no longer have to provide full coverage for dialysis treatments, even though [...]

Letter: ‘Requesting legislative action’

2024-09-17T18:20:12+00:00September 13th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

I urge U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act. This legislation allows new dialysis patients to keep their private insurance, a critical financial lifeline, for their initial months of care. Dialysis is the only treatment for those awaiting a kidney transplant. However, a recent Supreme Court decision enables private insurers to weaken coverage in the first months of care, essentially pushing patients onto Medicare prematurely. This shift places enormous burdens on patients who need stability during a challenging time when they are often focused on just trying to keep their jobs. I was [...]

Americans should never be punished for having a debilitating illness

2024-07-30T19:21:34+00:00July 27th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

Americans should never be punished for having a debilitating illness. Unfortunately, that’s what happens to people like me with illnesses such as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), otherwise known as kidney failure. ESRD changed my life. Paying for ESRD treatment, whether it was dialysis (the treatment which works in place of kidneys) or transplant, both of which I experienced, proved to be extremely difficult. I had to rely on Cobra, Medicare, and Medicaid, and I struggled to pay for life-saving treatment. For other ESRD patients, they face financial burdens because private insurers are allowed to kick them off their insurance. [...]

Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act needs NJ delegation’s support

2025-05-22T16:50:00+00:00July 22nd, 2024|Categories: Get Involved, Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

For most patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, their diagnosis comes as a shock. One day, I was suddenly rushed to the ER and received the shocking diagnosis. I suddenly had to begin dialysis, the only treatment for ESRD outside of a kidney transplant. My life changed at that moment. I would now have to do almost daily dialysis treatments that can take several hours each time. I didn’t know how I was going to keep working and make ends meet. On top of that, I’ve had to deal with Medicare and Medicaid for my coverage [...]

Federal bill critical for dialysis patients

2024-07-23T17:29:03+00:00July 19th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

COVID-19 changed the lives of all Americans. For me, a COVID-19 infection led to kidney failure. When the doctor diagnosed me with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), I could not believe it. Suddenly, I had to begin dialysis, the arduous and frequent treatment which replaces my kidneys. Dialysis allows me to live. Unfortunately, the health care expenses for dialysis patients can become overwhelming, especially since many of us have other health conditions. Fortunately, I began treatment on private insurance with a very low deductible, which kept me afloat. Dialysis became much less affordable once I transitioned to Medicare after 30 [...]

Supreme Court ruling puts decades-long patient protections at risk

2024-07-22T14:34:53+00:00July 19th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

To the Editor: Chances are you know someone with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or kidney failure. ESRD affects people of all ages and backgrounds. My kidneys failed despite the fact that I had a healthy lifestyle, and it was a hard pill to swallow. The only two treatments available for kidney failure are transplants — which are scarce — and dialysis, the treatment that removes extra fluid and waste products from your blood when your kidneys can’t. I received dialysis treatment for seven years before receiving a transplant in 2023. Dialysis is an expensive treatment. Thankfully, my Congressman, Paul [...]

Rep. Houchin needs to support act to help dialysis patients in Indiana

2024-07-23T17:42:42+00:00July 19th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

Dialysis patients and families of the 9th Congressional District need your help. In 2022, the Supreme Court decided that group health plans do not violate the Medicare Secondary Payer Plan (MSP) law by changing the benefits for dialysis patients, which could force them into government coverage. This decision will place dialysis patients and their families in severe financial hardship, as Medicare only covers 80% of our health care expenses. Only recently did my state look at increasing patient access to private plans to help us cover the remaining 20%. In the meantime, we face restricted access to care and even [...]

Restore the Protections

2024-07-03T16:24:14+00:00July 2nd, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

Editor, I’ve been on dialysis for more than 20 years, and I, like many other patients, struggle to afford the treatments that keep me alive. America’s health insurance system is supposed to give all patients equal support, but for dialysis patients, it doesn’t feel that way. The Supreme Court ruled that private insurers could automatically transition dialysis patients to Medicare instead of allowing them to stay on their private insurance for 30 months. When you first start dialysis, you’re quite sick and the experience can be traumatic, so it’s a terrible time to not only switch health plans but to [...]

Letter to the Editor

2024-07-03T16:20:24+00:00June 28th, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage|

My daughter Dianne passed away at the age of 45 due to complications related to kidney failure, or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Anyone who has lost a child knows the indescribable loss I experienced. However, few people understand the financial burdens ESRD patients face in addition to managing their health. I am extremely grateful that Medicare, combined with the benefits provided by the state of Pennsylvania, covered the bulk of Dianne’s healthcare expenses. Other patients, though, rely on employer-provided private insurance to cover their health care costs, especially in the beginning months of care before switching to Medicare.  Yet, [...]

Letter: Supreme Court ruling harms dialysis patients

2025-03-26T19:32:00+00:00June 27th, 2024|Categories: Patient Ambassadors, Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

Dear Editor: Kidney failure, known as end stage renal disease (ESRD), brought many difficulties to my life. I had high blood pressure and diabetes, which ultimately caused my kidneys to fail. My kidney disease went undiagnosed for a long time, and when I was diagnosed, my husband, daughter and grandson had all recently passed away. I was already going through so much. My diagnosis made things even harder. Despite physical and financial problems, I’ve managed to persevere on dialysis resiliently. Financially, I’ve relied on Medicare and Medicaid, but I still have to pay out of pocket for many medications. It’s [...]

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