For people with serious preexisting health issues, it’s not always easy (or affordable) to get the health coverage you need. However, a new Senate Bill is designed to expand access to Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) for Nevada residents under 65 with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Here’s what you need to know.
Affordable Medicare supplement coverage for people with renal disease
Before this bill, anyone under the age of 65 would pay more for Medicare supplement insurance, even those with end-stage renal disease. However, with the new legislation under Senate Bill 292, anyone under the age of 65 with ESRD can get Medigap insurance at a much more affordable price.
Starting on October 1, 2025, ESRD patients under 65 will be able to enroll in Medigap Plans A, B, and D at the same premiums as those age 65 and older. Other Medigap plans must be offered at no more than twice the standard rate for those 65 and older.
These premium reductions will help patients with ESRD who may not qualify for Medicaid or employer-sponsored insurance to cover the 20% gap in Medicare and get the healthcare coverage they need at a much more affordable cost.
Bipartisan support of Senate Bill 292
Because of its benefits to those with ESRD and Nevada as a whole, Senate Bill 292 passed both the senate and the house easily with widespread bipartisan support.
The bill was initially sponsored by Senator Roberta Lange with support from various advocacy groups, including Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), who praised the legislation as “life changing” for Nevada residents with kidney failure. The bill passed the Nevada State Senate unanimously and passed the Assembly 39-3. Governor Joe Lombardo signed the bill into law, which will go into effect October 1, 2025.
Special Medicare supplement enrollment period for renal disease patients
Qualifying Nevada residents under 65 with ESRD who are current dialysis patients can enroll in a new affordable Medicare Supplement plan during a special one-time, six-month enrollment period from October 1, 2025 through April 1, 2026.
If you or someone you know is under 65 and has renal disease, you may qualify for affordable Medigap coverage under the new Senate Bill 292. Contact an agent at Health Benefits Associates to go over your options. We’ll help you find the coverage that best fits your needs and your budget. Call us today at 775-828-1216 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
