Life with kidney disease while I was working in the United Arab Emirates was very different compared to what it is in the U.S. I had to receive all of my treatments in the hospital, and because the coverage options available weren’t the same as they are here, I had to pay for my treatments out of pocket. I felt I could get better options moving back to the U.S., but it was still remarkably expensive. Because Medicare only covers 80% of the cost of treatment, I needed to buy additional coverage to help pay for the rest until I [...]

How much money do you make in an average year? Think about it for a minute. Now, imagine that entire annual salary, and then some, is gone in a month. Why, you may ask? Because those are the costs dialysis patients incur on a monthly basis. While all dialysis patients are covered by traditional Medicare, this only covers 80 percent, leaving patients to try to find a way to pay for the rest. One point four million dollars. That is the amount billed to my secondary insurance, which I am fortunate to get through my wife's work, since July 1, [...]

I was devastated when I wound up in the emergency room and found out my kidneys had failed. I was immediately placed on dialysis and began a new way of life. My new reality meant spending many hours per week at my dialysis center receiving life-saving treatments. Dialysis treatments can be costly. Medicare will only cover up to 80% of the costs, and my options are limited for covering the rest since I’m under 65. I am lucky to have had assistance from the American Kidney Fund to help pay the remainder. However, many patients are not as fortunate and [...]

Families have a lot in common, and something mine shares is kidney disease. Both my late mother and I who have suffered from this have had to receive life-saving dialysis treatments that allowed our bodies to continue to function. At the beginning of my dialysis journey, I had insurance through my employer, which covered the costs of these pricey treatments. However, they took up most of my time and energy, and I inevitably had to leave my job. Being unable to work full-time is a persistent problem for patients on dialysis. Because of this, I now live on disability and [...]