My father has renal failure and must go in for dialysis 3 times a week. Is there a federal program available?

Someone told me that there is a federal program pays all costs involved but, I have been searching all day and just can not find one. By the way, he is 70 years young, resides in California, and also owns a small cafe. The expense of the dialysis and other diabetes related expenses even with Medicare is out of his financial ability to continue with the treatments! Please help us.

He is not a Veteran. My Mom told me today that Medicare denied their claim because they have $3,000 in the bank! Unbelievable! This is disgusting! Any other programs that may be available to him?

Sorry to hear about your father. Check on Medicaid, that should be your federal program. I'm sure that they will pay for it all. Just remember, if your father cannot afford the treatment, HE CANNOT BE REFUSED MEDICAL CARE. That is federal law, and probably state law as well. Someone in that area MUST provide dialysis and diabetes related products and care. I only wish you the best of luck to you and your father. Please let me know what you find out. Have a great day.

Only if your last name is Sanchez.

I am a diabetic, I never get any care.

Such is life in the USSA

if he is a veteran, the V.A. can and will help him.

he needs to be approved as ''disabled'' either by social security or
the state of California..............any hospital has a social worker who will be more than happy to help you thru all the crap...........

Is dad a VET. If he is help is there for the asking. Awarded to all us VETS..Contact the Veterans Administration. It's in your phone book and/or Veterans Counsellor in your town...

I believe Medicare (which he already qualifies for, at his age) has a special program for dialysis--publications about this program are at: http://www.medicare.gov/Dialysis/Static/...

Apparently they have a list of dialysis centers that work with Medicare.

Not all doctors accept Medicare and some offices are real idiots about billing properly. You may have to cruise the Medicare website to help advocate for him on all counts.

Insurance companies sell Medicare supplement plans or "Medigap" plans that help pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. In most states, these plans follow a model set up by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC labels plans with the letters A to L. Every "A" plan is the same. The same is true of every "L" plan, etc. This makes it easy to shop for a plan, because all you have to do is compare the premiums and make sure your healthcare providers accept that plan. Companies are not required to sell all plans in your state. Three states do not follow the NAIC model鈥擬assachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Federal law requires that if you are 65 or older and sign up for Medicare Part B, you have a 6 month open enrollment period to buy a Medigap plan鈥攅ven with kidney failure. You can't be turned down or charged more than other 65 year olds. The company must count any months you had other insurance toward your 6-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If you developed kidney failure and signed up for Medicare Part B before age 65, when you turn 65, you will have another 6 month open enrollment period to buy a Medigap plan. Medicare coverage counts toward the 6 month waiting period, so if you had Medicare for 6 months, you won't have a waiting period for pre-existing conditions. If you signed up for Part B when you were under 65, you'll get a new Medigap open enrollment period when you turn 65. For more information on Medigap coverage, see http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pub... and/or contact your state insurance department. You can find a map with links to state insurance department contacts at http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm.