I have progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). One day, my kidneys will fail. Dialysis — a life-saving treatment that removes waste from the blood when the
kidneys fail — is in my future. Right now, I am doing everything I can to slow the progression of my disease. But one thing I can’t control is whether I’ll be able to afford very expensive dialysis treatment when the time comes.
I recently lost my job, which means I lost my private insurance. I bought my own private plan to keep the care I need, but that’s only a temporary fix. My expenses will skyrocket when I begin dialysis. If I end up on Medicare without private insurance or Medicaid, I’ll be stuck paying 20% of my expenses out of pocket. That’s thousands of dollars a year I simply can’t afford.
For many in my situation, the best option is Medigap insurance, or supplemental plans that help cover that 20%. Many states have already guaranteed access to affordable Medigap for dialysis patients under 65. However, California has yet to do so.
I urge my lawmakers, State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-CA-23) and Assemblymember Gregg Wallis (R-CA-47), to support Senate Bill 242 and ensure every dialysis patient in California has access to affordable Medigap. It’s just common sense.
Janet Tennyson, Beaumont, California
