Private Health Insurance while ESRD

[INeedThis]

I am taking care of my husband who has been on dialysis for over a year. He goes into a dialysis clinic m-w-f. We moved almost 2,000 miles in September to be near family. He is not getting the proper care through the VA in Texas and we were told that no private health insurance will cover him because of the expense of dialysis. Any ideas?

[nh1966]

I can't speak to your situation and for all insurance companies. My insurance (employer provided) is paying for my dialysis. BUT I had the insurance before I was diagnosed/started dialysis. Now if you are shopping for/need a new plan and it's a pre-existing condition they may not want to cover it. Have you looked into "Obama Care" in your State? Allegedly it would cover pre-existing conditions. Also you dialysis center should have an insurance coordinator to help you get some answers. Since your husband is on dialysis for more than 3 months, he automatically qualifies for Medicare regardless of his age. I would call local Medicare Office, your treatment centers' insurance coordinator and your State Obama Care Office.

[INeedThis in reply to nh1966]

Thank You! Yes I will take your advice.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to INeedThis]

Yes when I started on dialysis I was eligible for Medicare as my primary insurance. The social worker at dialysis can help your husband get signed up.

[Bunkin]

Medicare as primary and you should be able to get a secondary insurance if you don’t have one