ESRD and Disability Medicare Supplemental Plans

End Stage Renal Failure and Disability Medicare Insurance Options

Oct 16, 2009

ESRD Medicare and Disability Medicare Supplemental, BlackpitShooting

For those under 65 suffering from a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) needing dialysis or a kidney transplant, Medicare is available. But what about Medigap?

It is possible to get a Medicare policy for those with disabilities or suffering from ESRD through a private insurer (such as Humana and Aetna). However, despite having disability Medicare or ESRD Medicare, it may not be possible to additionally get a Medigap insurance supplemental plan while under 65, as Federal Law does not require private insurance companies to sell Medigap supplemental insurance.

However, this may be different at the state level, depending upon where you live.

States Which Require the Sale of Medigap Supplemental Insurance

According to Medicare.gov's "Choosing a Medigap Policy," the following states require private insurance providers to sell supplemental Medicare plans to those under 65 with ESRD Medicare or Disability Medicare:

California*
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware**
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts*
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Vermont*
Wisconsin

* Denotes a Medigap supplemental insurance policy isn’t available to people with ESRD under age 65.

** Denotes a Medigap supplemental policy is only available to people with ESRD under age 65.

ESRD Medicare and Disability Medicare Supplemental Insurance in Other States

If you do not live in any of the above states, have ESRD Medicare or disability Medicare, and are under the age of 65, it is still possible to buy supplemental Medicare plans, as some private insurance companies will sell them. It should be noted, however, that such Medigap insurance supplemental plans are often much more expensive than they normally would be, as the companies are not bound by the Federal Government to sell such policies. Keep in mind that insurance companies who choose to sell supplemental Medicare plans to ESRD Medicare or disability Medicare holders under 65 may use medical underwriting.

According to Medicare.gov, it's important to remember that "if you are already enrolled in Medicare Part B, you will get a Medigap open enrollment period when you turn age 65. You will probably have a wider choice of Medigap policies and be able to get a lower premium at that time. During the Medigap open enrollment period, insurance companies can’t refuse to sell you any Medigap policy due to a disability or other health problem, or charge you a higher premium (based on health status) than they charge other people who are age 65" or older.

In such cases, it's important to compare supplemental Medicare plans' costs and learn how Medigap supplemental insurance is priced and rated.

For more information, contact your State Health Assistance Program.

The copyright of the article ESRD and Disability Medicare Supplemental Plans in Public Healthcare Issues is owned by David Harris-Gershon. Permission to republish ESRD and Disability Medicare Supplemental Plans in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.