A: Chronic illnesses, such as end-stage renal disease, require extended care that can last for many years – or sometimes decades. For many low-income patients who rely on regular dialysis treatments, charitable premium assistance is the lifeline allowing them to afford the care they need.

Charitable organizations around the country provide financial assistance annually to thousands of people on dialysis enabling them to afford the healthcare plan of their choice, whether it is premiums for private insurance or the out-of-pocket costs associated with government plans such as Medicare.

Thanks to this charitable assistance, dialysis patients have one less thing to worry about, allowing them to focus more on their care and less on how it is funded.

A: SB 1156 is a bill before the California state legislature that threatens to take away patient choice by creating severe limitations on how dialysis patients pay for their treatments, including cutting off charitable premium assistance. SB 1156 is a misguided piece of legislation that threatens patients with lack of access to the care they need to survive.

A: Many dialysis patients depend on the generosity of charities to help them continue receiving the care they need. Cutting off charitable premium assistance would put the most vulnerable patients at further risk by limiting their coverage options.

A: The most important thing you can do to protect the rights of patients on dialysis is to speak out! By calling and writing legislators and regulators in your state, sharing your story on social media and lending your voice to our efforts, you will be part of a growing movement fighting for the rights of people to keep the healthcare plans they prefer.