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Expand Medigap Coverage

2025-03-26T19:31:54+00:00March 10th, 2025|Categories: Featured Spotlight, 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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California Resources

2025-01-23T17:55:22+00:00January 9th, 2025|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Increase Quality of Care, Policy Issues, Promote Financial Security, State Advocacy|

As the wildfires continue to profoundly affect communities in the Los Angeles area, Dialysis Patient Citizens extends its heartfelt support to all who are impacted by this devastating crisis. Thousands of structures have been affected, over 200,000 residents have been displaced, and to date, at least 27 people have lost their lives. Government officials, including Governor Newsom, have issued emergency declarations as the fires intensified, allowing for rapid deployment of resources to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. While some of you may not live in the immediate area of the wildfires, we understand that many of you may work, travel, [...]

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Federal Officials Update Kidney Community on Baxter Hurricane Recovery

2024-10-24T12:58:01+00:00October 23rd, 2024|Categories: Article, News, Protect Patient Care|

Officials from the US Department of Health and Human Services updated kidney care leaders on the fallout from hurricane damage to Baxter’s North Caroline plant. A representative of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response said that it is working with the FDA and Baxter to mitigate shortages of fluids for dialysis patients. The government has invoked the Defense Production Act to ensure that Baxter has the materials needed to clean up their facility. Two other companies are increasing production to their full capacity to bring additional products to market. Products from Baxter’s overseas facilities are being airlifted to the US, [...]

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Medicare Drug Plans Are Getting Better Next Year. Some Will Also Cost More.

2024-10-24T12:55:43+00:00October 21st, 2024|Categories: Article, Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage, Medicare Advantage, News, Promote Financial Security|

By Susan Jaffe October 21, 2024 When Pam McClure learned she’d save nearly $4,000 on her prescription drugs next year, she said, “it sounded too good to be true.” She and her husband are both retired and live on a “very strict” budget in central North Dakota. By the end of this year, she will have spent almost $6,000 for her medications, including a drug to control her diabetes. McClure, 70, is one of about 3.2 million people with Medicare prescription drug insurance whose out-of-pocket medication costs will be capped at $2,000 in 2025 because of the Biden administration’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, according [...]

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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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Private Insurance for Dialysis Care Introduced in the Senate

2024-09-26T14:10:02+00:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Advance Patient Choice, Article, Improve Access to Care, Private Insurance Coverage, Promote Financial Security, Protect Patient Care|

Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently introduced The Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (S. 5018), which is the Senate companion to H.R. 6860 introduced earlier this year. If you are a dialysis patient, you may be eligible for Medicare, but you also have the right to keep your private employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 30 months after being diagnosed with kidney failure. However, a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could limit your access to private coverage by allowing health plans to cut dialysis benefits from their networks and impose stricter rules. Along [...]

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Letter: Rep. Peters and Other Leaders Must Support Legislation Protecting Dialysis Patients

2024-11-20T20:36:07+00:00September 23rd, 2024|Categories: Patient Stories in the News, Private Insurance Coverage, Spotlight|

Like over 91,000 Californians, my father suffers from end stage renal disease — kidney failure, or ESRD. My father has been receiving dialysis, the only treatment for ESRD besides a kidney transplant, for over 18 years. Dialysis is a life-consuming, exhausting treatment, but it keeps my father alive. I have served as my father’s part-time caregiver during these years. Unfortunately, many dialysis patients struggle with their healthcare expenses. Many rely on their employer-provided private insurance, especially during the first months of care, but dialysis treatment can make it very challenging to continue working. Since most receive their diagnosis unexpectedly, having that insurance [...]

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