I urge U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) to support the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act. This legislation allows new dialysis patients to keep their private insurance, a critical financial lifeline, for their initial months of care.
Dialysis is the only treatment for those awaiting a kidney transplant. However, a recent Supreme Court decision enables private insurers to weaken coverage in the first months of care, essentially pushing patients onto Medicare prematurely. This shift places enormous burdens on patients who need stability during a challenging time when they are often focused on just trying to keep their jobs.
I was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in 2010, and it was an extremely difficult time. Luckily, my employer- provided coverage helped me secure quality care and focus on my health without the added stress of immediately navigating Medicare’s bureaucracy.
Dialysis sustained me for 11 years until my transplant two years ago, for which my private insurance was essential. Without private insurance, many patients wait longer to receive a transplant.
Congress must help new dialysis patients retain their private insurance. I urge Rep. Crockett to support this bill and restore essential protections for dialysis patients.
Sincerely,
Joseph Aguirre, Duncanville, Texas
