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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]