I’ve lived with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) since I was 9. ESRD is permanent kidney failure. Dialysis, a process that filters your blood when your kidneys no
longer can, is what keeps me alive. I’ve spent over 20 years on dialysis, and I now do treatments at home several times a week.
I worked most of my adult life, taking advantage of reliable private insurance from my employers for my costly treatments. That coverage helped me stay independent and maintain my health. But I recently became quite ill and had to stop working. My only option to supplement Medicare became a private plan costing me $750 a month just to keep access to my life-saving care.
That’s why I support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act. While it wouldn’t directly apply to me, it would protect new dialysis patients from being pushed off their private insurance too soon, even if they’re working. These patients may not qualify for Medicaid and, like me, be left to fill in costly gaps. Those gaps can be financially devastating, especially during the first months of treatment when patients are adjusting to a new way of life.
I urge my Congressman, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, to cosponsor this bill. It ensures patients have a fair chance to maintain the coverage they’ve earned. Dialysis patients are human beings, and we deserve policies that treat us like it.
Derek Powers, Union, Michigan
