To the Editor:
Discovering I had End-Stage Renal Disease, or kidney failure, was one of the most shocking days of my life. I was a high school wrestler and felt healthy. I had recently become a proud godfather, cheering on my niece at her volleyball and softball games. I never thought I would have to confront a chronic condition.
I wouldn’t be alive today without dialysis, a treatment that filters my blood several times a week. Dialysis is exhausting, but the financial burden can be just as draining. I’m fortunate to work for a company that allows me to adjust my schedule and keep my private health insurance. But even with that plan and Medicare, I still pay over $400 a month out of pocket. Medicare only covers 80 percent of the cost. Without my private plan, I could fall into medical debt.
Now, many dialysis patients are at risk of losing private coverage. A recent Supreme Court decision made it easier for insurance companies to drop or push patients like me onto Medicare in the critical first 30 months of treatment. That means less coverage, higher costs, and worse chances of getting a transplant.
Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) must fight by cosponsoring the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act, legislation that would ensure patients can keep their private insurance and protect their health when they need it most.
Thank you,
David Abeyta – Van Nuys, Los Angeles
