TransAction Council Resources
Insurance Coverage Options
The Healthwell Foundation www.healthwellfoundation.org 1-800-675-8416, based on their funding and available money, will help people who qualify based on certain diagnoses and other factors pay for premiums and copays.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners web site www.naic.org allows you to search for your state's insurance department. http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm State insurance departments are the best sources for company and agent licensing information. The links below provide additional state contact information for specific issues.
Freelancers Union www.freelancersunion.org/insurance or 800-856-9981 Membership is free, if you qualify and gives access to group health, dental and disability insurance.
The National Association of Health Underwriters www.nahu.org Use the Find an Agent feature on the home page to locate a licensed health insurance broker in your area.
Chamberofcommerce.com click on the resource directory to find your local chamber of commerce; many chambers offer health insurance to their members.
ehealthinsurance.com Comparison shop among policies from 180 insurance providers by state. (Vermont, ME, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are not included. )
Small Business Service Bureau www.sbasb.com 800-343-0939 Membership is $85 to $125 a year and gives access to group health insurance for sole proprietors and very small businesses.
Patient Advocate Foundation
www.patientadvocate.org
help@patientadvocate.org
700 Thimble Shoals Blvd Suite 200
Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: (800) 532-5274
Fax: (757) 873-8999
Patient Advocate Foundation offers personalized assistance to patients with specific issues they are facing with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases
Life Insurance
Some Life Insurance companies offer guaranteed issue plans where as long as you are not in hospice or terminal, and if you are willing to pay a higher premium will offer you between $5-$20,000.
In addition, some life insurance companies offer a "graded Death benefit " which requires no medical exam and up to $15,000 of coverage if a person meets certain requirements, such as not having AIDS, cancer, no recent hospitalization, and for the first few years only certain types of deaths are covered (natural and accidental for example) with premiums returned if death occurs a different way. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) sometimes offers this to members.
For Medicare and Insurance Options:
The Healthwell Foundation www.healthwellfoundation.org 1-800-675-8416, based on their funding and available money, will help people who qualify based on certain diagnoses and other factors pay for premiums and copays.
Taking Control: Money Matters For People With Chronic Kidney Disease
This book is designed to provide individuals with stage 5 CKD (dialysis and transplant) the information they need to help pay for treatment for kidney failure, understanding what Medicare pays for, emloyer group health plans, prescription drug coverage and other relevant money matters.
Published by National Endowment for Financial Education and the National Kidney Foundation #01-10-0250 (This 72 page book is also available in hard copy by calling (800) 622-9010)
Chapter 1: Understanding Costs (PDF* 2.4MB)
Chapter 2: Keeping Health Insurance Coverage (PDF* 3.5MB)
Chapter 3: What Medicare, Medicgap, Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs Can Pay for (PDF* 5.4MB)
Chapter 4: How Social Security Can Help (PDF* 1MB)
Chapter 5: More Sources of Financial Help (PDF* 4MB)
Chapter 6: Definitely Yes! Going to School, Working and Traveling (PDF* 4MB)
Chapter 7: A Summary of Helpful Programs and Financial Resources (PDF* 3.5MB)
Helpful Links:
Medicare: www.medicare.gov
State kidney programs: http://som.missouri.edu/MOKP/docs/noskp/index.html
State comprehensive health insurance: www.naschip.org
Medicaid: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA): www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996: www.eeoc.gov
Kidney Drug Coverage: www.kidneydrugcoverage.org
Medicare Right Center: http://www.medicarerights.org/
State Kidney Programs/ c/o Missouri Kidney Program
Approximately 25 states have programs that offer assistance for kidney transplant or dialysis patients with outpatient medications and other expenses. To find out if your state has such a program, contact the National Organization for State Kidney Programs at 800-733-7345 or http://som.missouri.edu/MOKP/docs/noskp/index.html
