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New South Carolina legislation would help dialysis patients get secondary coverage for dialysis treatments.
Medigap reform is gaining ground in South Carolina. Thanks in part to your involvement and advocacy.
Update 3/17/10:
The Senate Banking & Insurance Subcommittee and Committee gave their overwhelming approval of Medigap legislation (S. 1128) last week – passing the bill by a wide margin in both the subcommittee and the full committee. As a sign of the legislation’s support, the hearing was attended by a number of patients and other advocates in the kidney community who urged for its passage.
The Medigap legislation is expected to go to the Senate floor for a full vote in the next few weeks.
Background:
For anyone over 65, a supplemental plan called Medigap can be purchased to help cover the costs of treatment that Medicare does not pay for. In more than half of U.S. states, this coverage is also offered to dialysis patients under 65. Unfortunately for dialysis patients in South Carolina, this is not an option.
If South Carolina allowed dialysis patients under 65 who are covered by Medicare to purchase private Medigap insurance:
- Quality of life for patients would be improved.
- Patients could purchase coverage for their dialysis care and not have to spend down their assets in order to qualify for Medicaid.
- Fewer dialysis patients would enter the Medicaid program saving the State of South Carolina money.
Here's How You Can Help:
Kidney Care Connections provides easy to use tools to help you identify and communicate with the South Carolina lawmakers who represent you.
- Please EMAIL your South Carolina state legislators and ask them to pass Senate Bill 1128 and House Bill 4552, Medigap legislation for dialysis patients.
- Please CALL your South Carolina state legislators. A sample telephone script is provided.
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