Financial Hardships:

Financial difficulty among people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has received little attention. As a result, we describe the nature and causes of financial difficulty in a nationally representative sample of persons with CKD.

Being diagnosed with kidney disease not only comes a range of emotions, but also financial commitments, many of which people struggle to satisfy. Many patients encounter substantial financial issues over time, since some are forced to quit their jobs owing to this chronic condition. Bills might appear to rise year after year as sources of income diminish, and many patients are overwhelmed by the expense of health insurance premiums.

Many individuals suffering from kidney disease are all too acquainted with this narrative of financial difficulties. Patients suffer substantial out-of-pocket expenses, and the logistical and physical demands of dialysis treatment can make it impossible to work full-time; in fact, according to one recent survey, just 19 percent of dialysis patients aged 18 to 54 are working.


    Tips to avoid delay in care:

    • Report all symptoms to your doctor as soon as possible so that you can be treated and return to work. Many work-related insurance programs are less expensive or provide better benefits than private insurance.
    • Keep track of all your medical, insurance, and financial data, as well as the names and phone numbers of everyone you speak with.
    • Your renal care team or social worker is an excellent resource to assist you navigate the process.
    • Check to see if your employer is large enough to provide the Family and Medical Leave Act, which allows you to take time off for doctor's appointments, dialysis center visits, or home dialysis training.
    • If you are unable to work, go to the Social Security website and seek for "The Red Book," which contains the criteria for their two primary disability programs.
    • There is normally a 24-month delay for Medicare if you receive disability payments without having kidney failure. There is a three-month delay if you have renal failure and undertake in-center dialysis. However, whether you begin a training program for home dialysis or receive a transplant as your initial treatment, it begins immediately.


    Also visit the following websites for more information:

    1. dol.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)
    2. ssa.gov/redbook or (800) 772-1213 (Social Security Disability Insurance)
    3. Healthcare.gov
    4. Medicare.gov
    5. Ihs.gov (Indian Health Services)
    6. Va.gov (U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs)
    7. Benefits.gov
    8. Unitedway.org
    9. shiphelp.org or (877) 839-2675 (State Health Insurance Programs)
    10. Needymeds.org and mat.org (Medicine Assistance Tool)