What Grants for Dialysis Patients Are Available?
This article explicitly covers medical grants for dialysis patients. We have a separate piece for housing grants available for dialysis patients.
Medical grants for dialysis patients cover the expensive costs of services and medicines, helping people with kidney failure.
Chronic kidney disease is a common public health issue in the United States. More than 10 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease.
Patients with final-stage renal disease either need a kidney transplant or dialysis to live, which is quite expensive.
Grants for Dialysis Patients – How to Get Financial Help?
Medical Grants for Dialysis Patients – Paying for Care
Dialysis is a treatment that is needed when kidneys can no longer take care of the body’s needs.
Most people with kidney failure need financial help for dialysis. The Federal Government guarantees Medicare coverage for patients with kidney failure.
Grants for dialysis patients are also available from other sources, such as joint federal-state programs, private organizations, private health insurance, and medication assistance programs.
Kidney failure treatment through dialysis is costly, but there are many ways to get help to pay for your treatment.
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Federal Grants for Dialysis Patients
Kidney failure treatment is expensive and tied to federal expenditures through the Medicare entitlement program. Nearly all patients with end-stage renal disease are eligible for and receive the cost of dialysis under Medicare coverage.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers health care costs. It is eligible for people who are:
- Age 65 or older
- Underage 65 with specific disabilities and have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for two years.
- Of any age with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that can be treated with dialysis.
How to Get Medicare for Dialysis?
Visit Medicare.gov and search for “I have an end-stage renal disease.” You would be able to find information about whether you qualify for Medicare. Further instructions will be given on how to sign up.
What Plans Does Medicare Offer?
Medicare has two ways to get coverage – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plan.
Most patients are not allowed to join the Medicare Advantage plan. However, the 21st Century Cures Act will allow people with ESRD to join this plan, which includes prescription drug coverage.
There is no cap on out-of-pocket costs with Original Medicare, but a patient can get care anywhere that Medicare is accepted.
On the other hand, Medical Advantage Plans limit where you get care, but they cap out-of-pocket costs.
To learn more about Medicare health plans, visit Medicare.gov and search “ESRD.” Then click on “Sign up for Medicare if you have ESRD.”
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY: 1-877-486-2048).
Grants for Dialysis Patients – What Plans Does Medicaid Offer?
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Joint Federal-state Programs
Dialysis patients can get help for treatment from one or more programs run jointly by the state and federal governments, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage for low-income people with disabilities.
Each state runs its own Medicaid program based on a certain set of rules by the federal government. Medicaid may pay for the services that Medicare does not.
You can apply at Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.
What is the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)?
CHIP offers low-cost or free Medicaid to children. The states run CHIP and follow federal rules.
Find eligibility criteria for CHIP through Healthcare.gov or your state’s Medicaid or CHIP agency.
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Other State Programs
There are various state programs to help dialysis patients
- State kidney programs provide grants and other services to people with kidney issues who need dialysis. Dialysis clinics must have a social worker to help their patients. You can talk to them or your state financial counselor to find out if there is any state kidney program.
- State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) help to pay for prescription medicines for kidney treatment in certain states. Visit the SPAP online locator to learn what’s available in your state.
Grants for Dialysis Patients – Learn More About Kidney Treatment
FDA Grants Marketing of New Device for Continuous Dialysis Therapy
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States granted marketing authorization for a new device. It provides continuous hemofiltration or hemodialysis therapy.
The dialysis machine and a dialyzer continuously clean a patient’s blood without stopping. It saves cost as it does not require traditional three-times-a-week therapy sessions.
Conclusion
When kidneys fail, dialysis is performed. This treatment purifies and filters the blood using a machine.
Dialysis treatment is given weekly to maintain a balance between fluids and electrolytes. This costs a lot of money.
The federal government pays 80 percent of dialysis costs for most patients.
You are not alone! There are many sources of grants for dialysis patients.
Take care of yourself and stay healthy on dialysis!
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