the dialysis center may bill you $50,000 or so for the months you're not covered by medicare but don't worry they won't kick you out for not paying and will eventually write it off.
Sadly Grammalady, in this economy you cannot count on anyone writing anything off. As a matter of fact the one way that providers can gate keep is to not allow people to start dialysis at their facility because they don't have any (or the right) insurance. It happens every day.
Another things that is happening more and more is that people are being kicked out of their dialysis facilities for not paying their bills (even the 20% - there is no waiver given by medicare for any portion of the 20%). Being kicked out of dialysis for non payment is called an involuntary discharge (IVD), and it is terrible. Remember, most dialysis provided in the United States for at FORPROFIT centers. How can they keep non paying people on the books and make their shareholders happy? After all, Kent Theiry needs his Christmas bonus. http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=21553.msg356501#msg356501
I think any time that you are faced with having to pay for healthcare or food, you should write to your congressperson. Jeannea, I have never heard of a congressional office lighting a fire under the application process before (that worked). Thank you for sharing your positive results!
Here is a link to the conditions for an IVD, http://www.esrdnetwork8.org/dialysis-transplant-providers/quality-improvement/QI-assets/IVDpacket.pdf.
§ 494.180 Condition: Governance
(f) Standard: Involuntary Discharge and Transfer Policies and Procedures
The governing body must ensure that all staff follow the facility’s patient discharge and transfer policies and procedures. The medical director ensures that no patient is discharged or transferred from the facility unless:
(1) The patient or payer no longer reimburses the facility for the ordered services;
(2) The facility ceases to operate;
(3) The transfer is necessary for the patient’s welfare because the facility can no longer meet the patient’s documented medical needs; or
(4) The facility has reassessed the patient and determined that the patient’s behavior is disruptive and abusive to the extent that the delivery of care to the patient or the ability of the facility to operate effectively is seriously impaired, in which case the medical director ensures that the patient’s
interdisciplinary team:
(i) Documents the reassessments, ongoing problem(s), and efforts to resolve the problem(s),
and enters this documentation into the patient’s medical record;
(ii) Provides the patient and the local ESRD Network with a 30-day notice of the planned discharge;
(iii) Obtains a written physician’s order that must be signed by both the medical director and the patient’s attending physician concurring with the patient’s discharge or transfer from the facility;
(iv) Contacts another facility, attempts to place the patient there, and documents that effort; and
(v) Notifies the State survey agency of the involuntary transfer or discharge
(5) In the case of immediate severe threats to the health and safety of others, the facility may utilize an abbreviated involuntary discharge procedure.