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To Medicare or not to Medicare:
That is the Question.
By Kristen Seddon
Fresenius Medical Care Financial Coordinator
Understanding insurance options can be very confusing.
Where you live, where you have worked, currently work or
may work are just a few factors to consider. In truth, when
you are on dialysis, there is no universal option that will
assist everyone in any situation.
The insurance that may work for
the dialysis person sitting next
to you, your spouse or your best
friend, may be the best or worst
option for you. The focus of this
article will be the most common
insurance option, Medicare. It
will cover the risks and benefits of choosing that coverage.
Medicare is the most common
insurance option for dialysis
patients. Here, I will briefly
review some of the risks and
benefits of choosing that coverage. Medicare Part A is hospitalization insurance. Typically, it is at no
cost to you (as most of us pay into the
Medicare system through years of employment). Medicare Part B averages
$121.80 per month and covers outpatient services. Examples of this are
your family doctor, outpatient physical and occupational therapy and, of
course, dialysis. Medicare is an option that most people consider when
they turn 65. However, in the “land
of Dialysis”, many people are able to
obtain Medicare, regardless of their