Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, plans provide needed insurance for seriously ill patients. While Texans under 65-years-old have access to a single Medigap plan that has premiums are at least three times as expensive as the premiums of those over 65.

The proposed Medigap affordability law can help more than 15,000 Texans with ALS and ESRD. 

If patients can get an affordable Medigap plan, they can stay healthier AND stay off state Medicaid. Send a letter to your legislator and ask them to support HB 2516 and SB 1945 (essentially the same bill, proposed in both the House and the Senate). 

Tell them:

• Medigap is especially important to people who are waiting for a kidney. Kidney transplants help people with ESRD get off dialysis and live a longer, healthier life. However, without secondary insurance coverage, most transplant centers won't let patients be on the wait list.
• This legislation does not impact the state budget and actually could prevent cost-shifting to the state's Medicaid program.
• It also means that families do not have to "spend down" everything they have, in order to qualify for Medicaid in the first place.

Medigap affordability laws like this are proven to be effective in supporting families and keeping people off Medicaid with no or very little impact on other insurance rates. It's the right thing to do for Texas families.