Understanding insurance options while on dialysis

[mike22]

Hello, I recently graduated from Vanderbilt in 2011 while doing hemodialysis. I decided to complete my degree because I thought it can help me in the long run. After graduation, I came home to switch to PD. I figure I could use a little more freedom.  I would like to work and pursue my professional career. There are several factors I have to consider. I have analyze the scernarios over and over.  I really want to use my degree and pursue my career and try to save money for when the kidney comes. I know Medicare covers me from three years after transplant and after that I will have nothing. I want to have some kind of financial foundation to help me out. I know working will cause me to lose my disability check and insurance. Especially if I take an entry level career that starts pay between 30,000-50,000 year.  Do I still keep the Medicare?
However, if dont pursue my career I can work and  make the bare minimum and keep my benefits.  But I'm afraid it wont be enough for me to save and build for the future and my kidney transplant. I don't want to end in a situation where my Medicare has ended  and I left without any means of getting my transplant medications.

I would like to know what will happen if I make over the set limit? Will I lose my Medicare? Are there any other options?

[KarenInWA]

Your ESRD Medicare has nothing to do with what you make. I made over $69K while I was on HD in 2011. I had my tx near the end of the year. I am still within my 3 years after transplant and my Medicare is secondary. I would also recommend looking for a job that offers benefits, so that at the end of 3 years, you will not be stuck with nothing. I have a union job with excellent benefits. Of course, now my company wants to give us crappy benefits. My union is currently in negotiations, and will continue to be in negotiations for as long as possible. While that goes on, I still have my amazing medical insurance. I still can't believe how lucky I was when I found this job back in 2007. I work for a landline phone company.

KarenInWA