Florida may finally get Medigap for Under age 65 Medicare Patients

[Zach]

ttp://www.renalbusiness.com/hotnews/florida-considers-renaming-proposed-kidney-le.html

Fla. ESRD Bill Might be Named For Alonzo Mourning

Copyright 2009 by Virgo Publishing.
Posted on: 04/23/2009
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Florida Legislature is considering renaming a proposed bill that would give Florida end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients under the age of 65 access to Medigap coverage assistance after Alonzo Mourning, a former NBA star and kidney transplant recipient.

Mourning, a leading kidney disease patient advocate, recently made rounds in Tallahassee on behalf of the kidney community to advocate for a bill that could help kidney failure patients who are struggling to access health insurance for the care they need.

His efforts caught the attention of members of the Florida Legislature and Florida’s kidney community, who have proposed renaming the bill, The Alonzo Mourning Access to Care Act, which would give Florida ESRD patients under the age of 65 access to Medigap coverage assistance.

Under federal law, all Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 are already able to purchase this insurance as secondary coverage, which provides them with access to needed medical treatments, including kidney transplant, without cost being a barrier. In addition, beneficiaries don't have to “spend down” their income to become eligible for state Medicaid assistance, which in many cases is the only option for this population.

Mourning asked that this same option be extended to kidney patients under age 65. The current bill has been approved by committee and is awaiting a vote from the full legislature.