Contact Us Today

Funding & Insurance Options:
For Dialysis Patients

Want To Learn More?

Funding and Insurance Options for Dialysis

When you start dialysis, it can trigger a lot of anxiety. It is not always just “How will my life change?", but “How will we afford this?” The honest answer is that costs and out-of-pocket amounts vary widely based on your insurance, eligibility, and personal situation. What matters is that you do not have to guess or have to figure it out alone.

At Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego, our team helps patients and families understand the coverage side of care in plain language. We can walk through common pathways like Medicare, Medi-Cal (California Medicaid), employer or private insurance, and secondary coverage, then clarify what your next steps are for your exact situation.

We Give You Clarity On Your Coverage

If you are searching questions like how much does dialysis cost, does insurance cover dialysis, or does Medicare cover dialysis, you are not overthinking it. Those are the right questions! We help you map what your plan typically covers, what “out-of-pocket” may mean in real terms (deductibles, coinsurance, secondary coverage), and what documentation your insurer may require, so you can make decisions with less uncertainty.

Help With Paperwork, Eligibility, and Next Steps

Insurance rules can be confusing, especially around kidney failure and Medicare eligibility. We can help you organize what you need, understand what programs may apply, and prepare for common administrative steps, while staying realistic about one core truth: final coverage decisions are made by the payer, not the clinic. Our goal is to always be honest and not to promise an outcome, but rather to make the process navigable and reduce the stress that comes from not knowing where to start.

Talk With An Expert

Dialysis Costs and Insurance Coverage:
What You Need to Know First

If you are searching things like “how much does dialysis cost,” “does Medicare cover dialysis,” or “dialysis insurance,” you are not alone. Costs and out-of-pocket amounts can vary widely based on your coverage, eligibility, and treatment plan. This section is meant to help you understand what typically affects cost, what questions to ask, and how to get clarity on your specific situation.

Understanding Out-of-Pocket Costs

The total cost of dialysis and what you personally pay are not the same thing. Out-of-pocket costs often depend on deductibles, copays or coinsurance, secondary coverage, and whether services are in-network. If you want a realistic estimate, start by asking what your plan covers for dialysis treatment, labs, medications, and supplies.

Medicare Coverage for Dialysis

Many people with kidney failure have questions about Medicare coverage, including eligibility and when coverage begins. Medicare rules can be confusing, especially if you are under 65 or coordinating Medicare with other insurance. We can help you understand the typical coverage path and what to confirm with Medicare for your situation.

Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and Secondary Insurance

For patients in California, Medi-Cal may be part of the coverage picture, sometimes alongside Medicare or private insurance. Secondary coverage can meaningfully change out-of-pocket costs, but it also adds paperwork and coordination of benefits. We help you sort out the questions to ask and the steps that usually matter most.

Financial Assistance and Prescription Savings

If medication costs, premiums, or other expenses are creating stress, there may be assistance programs worth exploring. Some patients may qualify for nonprofit support, prescription discount resources, or other forms of financial help, depending on eligibility and availability. We can point you to reputable resources and help you prepare what is commonly needed to apply.

Talk With An Expert

Funding & Insurance Resources For Dialysis Patients

Paying for dialysis, transplant care, and medications can feel just as stressful as managing the treatments themselves. We have put together a set of trusted guides that explain how Medicare works with kidney disease, where to look for help with premiums and out of pocket costs, and how to find discount programs for prescriptions. These resources can help you understand your options, ask better questions about coverage, and spot financial help you might qualify for. Use them alongside the advice of your nephrologist, social worker, and insurance team so you can build a plan that fits your budget and your care.
Explore Funding & Insurance Options

Medicare Coverage for Dialysis and Transplant

Official Medicare booklet that explains how Medicare pays for kidney dialysis and kidney transplant care, what services are covered, when coverage starts and ends, and where to call for help. Helpful if you want a full picture of your options and rights.

Read the Medicare Coverage Booklet

Medicare and ESRD: Eligibility, Coverage, and Costs

Step-by-step Medicare.gov guide for people with end stage renal disease. Walks through who qualifies, how to sign up, when coverage begins, what you can expect to pay, and how coverage works in emergencies or when you travel.

Explore ESRD Medicare FAQs

American Kidney Fund Premium and Safety Net Grants

National programs from the American Kidney Fund that may help with health insurance premiums and other dialysis-related costs. Includes information on eligibility, what expenses can be covered, and how to apply if medical bills are putting pressure on your budget.

See If You Qualify for AKF Help

Prescription Discount and Assistance Resources

National Kidney Foundation resource that outlines prescription discount cards and financial aid programs that may lower the cost of medications, including drugs related to dialysis and transplant care. Useful if you are struggling to afford monthly prescriptions.

Find Help With Medication Costs

How HDT Helps You Understand Dialysis Costs and Coverage

If you are worried about how much dialysis costs, you are not being dramatic. Insurance terms, Medicare rules, and out-of-pocket costs can feel like a second full-time job. Our goal is to help you understand what typically drives dialysis-related costs, what questions to ask, and which trusted resources can help, so you can plan with clarity instead of fear.

Talk With a Social Worker About Coverage

Medicare and ESRD Benefits

If you are eligible for Medicare and you select hemodialysis (in a center) as your method of dialysis, there will be a 90-day waiting period for Medicare coverage to begin. However, if you select home dialysis (either peritoneal dialysis or home hemodialysis) as your method of dialysis, the waiting period does not apply. So, your Medicare coverage would begin on the first day of the month for the month in which you started dialysis. For example, if your first home dialysis training day is the 15th of October, your coverage would be effective on the 1st of October. We will assess your individual circumstances to determine your options for Medicare coverage.

We also have Medicare coverage booklets printed and available to you in English and Spanish at our clinics.

View Medicare Coverage Booklet

Ver el Folleto de Cobertura de Medicare

SDG&E Medical Baseline Allowance

Home dialysis equipment is a life support device. This equipment in the home qualifies you for the SDG&E Medical Baseline Allowance program. It also alerts your utility company that you have a life support device at home. In the event of a planned power outage, completion of this application will assist SDG&E with contacting you so you can make alternate arrangements for your treatment. We will assist you with the completion of this application at the onset of services with Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego and educate you regarding disaster preparedness as a home dialysis patient.

Download the Application Form

Descargar el Formulario de Solicitud

Transplant Support

If you are eligible for Medicare and you select hemodialysis (in a center) as your method of dialysis, there will be a 90-day waiting period for Medicare coverage to begin. However, if you select home dialysis (either peritoneal dialysis or home hemodialysis) as your method of dialysis, the waiting period does not apply. So, your Medicare coverage would begin on the first day of the month for the month in which you started dialysis. For example, if your first home dialysis training day is the 15th of October, your coverage would be effective on the 1st of October. We will assess your individual circumstances to determine your options for Medicare coverage.

We also have Medicare coverage booklets printed and available to you in English and Spanish at our clinics.

View Medicare Coverage Booklet

Ver el Folleto de Cobertura de Medicare

Medi-Cal and Other Public Assistance Programs

We will also help screen whether it may be of benefit to you to apply for Medi-cal or other programs, such as CalFresh (aka SNAP), offered by the California Department of Health and Human Services. Navigating public assistance programs can be intimidating for some, as well as confusing. Our social worker will help clarify what options may be beneficial for you to explore now. Our efforts to monitor your individual circumstances throughout your course of treatment with Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego will also help determine what steps you may want to take if your situation changes.

Visit Medi-Cal

Visit CalFresh (SNAP)

Download the Application Form

Descargar el Formulario de Solicitud

Employment and Income

Financial concerns and chronic illness often go hand in hand. You may have concerns about maintaining employment while accommodating dialysis into your routine. You may have already missed partial or full days of work due to illness and medical appointments. We are here to support you with the adjustments that may be needed to maintain the activities important to you in your life and routine. There may be paperwork you can fill out at your place of employment that gives you additional job protection for having an illness chronic in nature that requires ongoing treatment. You also may be eligible for short-term disability while you undergo home dialysis training, or if a family member is your care partner he or she may be eligible for Paid Family Leave. If you lose your job or are unable to return to your prior line of work due to disability, you do have options that the social worker at Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego can explore with you. We are here to assess your individual circumstances to help make the onset of dialysis, or transition to home dialysis, manageable for you. We have the EDD State Disability and Paid Family Leave Forms available for you at our clinics.

Visit CA.gov State Disability Insurance (SDI) Online

Visit CA.gov Vocational Rehabilitation

Get Educated on Kidney Transplantation

At HDT, we have collected a wide variety of resources to educate individuals at all stages of readiness for pursuing a kidney transplant.The Explore Transplant program, which is available in English and Spanish, has components were developed and field-tested through a series of HRSA research and dissemination grants.  Explore Transplant packets are available in English and Spanish at our clinics free of charge.

Learn More About Transplant

Explore Transplant Program

Scripps: Kidney Transplant Services

Sharp: Kidney Transplant Program

UCSD: Kidney Transplant Program

UNOS: United Network for Organ Sharing

Donate Life California Organ and Tissue Donor Registry

Frequently Asked Questions

Dialysis costs vary, and insurance affects what you actually pay. Many patients end up responsible for some mix of deductibles, copays, or coinsurance, plus costs that can sit outside the main treatment claim like certain medications, transportation, or supplies depending on coverage.

The fastest way to get clarity is to ask your insurer what your plan covers for dialysis treatment, labs, and dialysis-related medications, then confirm your remaining deductible and your coinsurance percentage for the year. Still confused? Book an appointment with HDT and we can help you understand the ins and outs of the insurance world!

Medicare can cover dialysis for people with kidney failure, but eligibility and start dates depend on individual circumstances. Coverage rules can feel unintuitive, especially if you are under 65, still working, or coordinating Medicare with other insurance.

Because timing and coordination can change what you owe, confirm your eligibility and effective date directly with Medicare or your plan, then ask your care team to help you interpret what that means for your out-of-pocket costs.

Medi-Cal may cover dialysis and related medical services for eligible California residents, but the details depend on your situation and enrollment category. Some patients have Medi-Cal as primary coverage, while others may use it alongside other insurance.

If you are considering Medi-Cal, focus on verifying eligibility, what services are covered, and whether there are any prior authorization or network rules that affect where you can receive care. If you have any questions, you can contact us to talk to an expert!

Out-of-pocket cost is the amount you pay yourself, separate from what your insurer pays. It can include your deductible, copays, and coinsurance, and it may change as you move through the year and meet plan limits.

When you are budgeting for dialysis, “out-of-pocket” is the number that matters most, so ask your plan for your out-of-pocket maximum and which dialysis-related services count toward it.

If you want to learn more about the different types of dialysis services we provide, click here! 

A deductible is what you pay before your plan starts paying for covered services, a copay is a fixed amount you pay for a visit or service, and coinsurance is a percentage of the allowed amount you pay after coverage applies. Dialysis bills can involve more than one of these, especially when labs, physician services, supplies, and medications are billed separately.

If you are seeing confusing charges, ask for an itemized explanation of benefits (EOB) and confirm whether each charge was processed in-network.

Book an appointment today and one our expert social workers can help you better understand your dialysis bill!

If prescription costs are a problem, you may have options, but eligibility and availability vary. Some patients can access prescription discount resources, nonprofit support programs, or other assistance depending on insurance type, income, and the medication.

Start by asking your care team and pharmacist whether there are covered alternatives or prior authorization steps that reduce cost, then explore reputable assistance resources for additional help with copays or monthly medication expenses.

A social worker speaks with a Hispanic couple about home dialysis insurance coverage and funding resources in a clinic office.
Scroll to Top