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 dialysis, I was blessed with another transplant. Even after a transplant, patients still face ongoing costs for medications and checkups.
I’m fortunate to have private insurance that covers what Medicare doesn’t. But many California dialysis patients under 65 lack private insurance or Medi-Cal.
While many states offer affordable “Medigap” plans to fill the gap left by Medicare, California doesn’t offer this coverage for younger patients. As a result, many Californians are falling through the cracks.
That’s why I’m urging my representatives, State Senator Melissa Hurtado (D–Bakersfield) and Assembly Member Alexandra Macedo (R–Tulare), to support SB 242. This bill would finally give patients under 65 access to Medigap plans in California—bringing peace of mind and real financial relief to thousands who need it.
Danny Iniguez, Kingsburg, California
