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?

[jeannea]

Being on dialysis, you get Medicare no matter what you earn. If you already have Medicare, Medicare will stay primary and your work insurance will be secondary. Because you have a full time job (if you find one) you will not receive a monthly disability check. Then if you still have a job 3 years after transplant, the Medicare will disappear and the work insurance will be primary.

I think you should go for it. Pursue your career while you're still young and have some energy. I was diagnosed while in grad school. I got a job and worked for 15 years. I had my first transplant after 5 years there. I took short term disability for 8 weeks, got my transplant, and went back to work. Now I'm on disability after a bad illness and my second transplant. It's complicated. I'm glad I worked because my disability check is better now.

Make sure your employer has at least 50 employees so you are covered by ADA. You should probably not talk about dialysis in interviews. After you get an offer find out definitely what their policy is for sick days and doctor appts. A larger employer should also offer long term and short term disability insurance. You can do it. Good luck!

[Sydnee]

Yes you will get to keep medicare. Once you get the job they will start billing you for medicare. Every 3 months. So make sure you keep that in mind. If you are on Medicaid you may be able to keep that for up to a year even if you make to much to qualify ,depending onhow long you were on Medicaid before you got the job.
 Totally worth it. Go get a job.

[mike22]

Thanks!!!! I'm glad you guys cleared this up. A friend of mine thinks I would lose ALL my insurance when I told who him I am ready to pursue my career. I told him I dont think I would lose my Medicare. I think it was genuine concern but he has to understand I'm really focus on my long term future finances and health. And my condition doesn't keep me from pursuing professional and eductaional opportunities. This is the main reason I switch to PD. It gets a little frustration when trying to explain your plans to people.