5 Ways to Pay for Kidney Dialysis Costs
Dealing with chronic kidney disease is a difficult and stressful experience compounded by the ongoing costs of medical care and the multiple hours of dialysis treatment needed each week. If you’ve been diagnosed with kidney disease, have experienced kidney failure or need a kidney transplant, we understand how hard it is to think about finding affordable healthcare on top of managing a chronic or life-threatening condition.
Health care costs should not prevent any dialysis patient from receiving the vital care they need. There are a number of ways to pay for dialysis treatment if you can’t afford it. We’ve assembled a list of resources below.
What types of dialysis are there?
Dialysis treatment is needed when your kidneys stop working properly and are no longer able to filter out excess fluid and waste products from your blood. This typically happens with advanced chronic kidney disease such as kidney failure. A dialysis machine can filter out the substances and fluids that have built up in your blood that cause unpleasant symptoms and can become dangerous if left untreated.
Kidney dialysis can be a temporary treatment, but often it becomes a longterm form of healthcare, especially if you are suffering from kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and a kidney transplant is not an option for you. These are two main types of dialysis:
- Hemodialysis diverts your blood into a dialysis machine where it gets filtered before it is returned to your body. Treatments are done three times a week and last about four hours each.
- Peritoneal dialysis filters your blood inside your body by pumping dialysis fluid into your abdomen. The fluid draws out waste products from your blood as it pumps through your abdomen, turning it into a filter, before it is drained again. The duration and number of treatments needed will vary on your condition.
Most dialysis services are administered at a hospital or an in-center dialysis facility, but it is possible to do home hemodialysis, too. You will need home dialysis equipment like a machine and plumbing to remove waste fluids, and you or a carer will need to undergo home dialysis training to learn how to do the procedure correctly, but once the right conditions are in place can be a more comfortable option for many.
How much does kidney dialysis cost?
The cost of dialysis treatment can vary greatly but generally the costs are high. For most patients, the federal government covers 80% of all dialysis costs through Medicare coverage, while private insurance and Medicaid can help with the remaining 20%.
Depending on the type of dialysis you need and the type of insurance you have, annual dialysis costs can range from $40,000 to $100,000 or more. For patients without health insurance, dialysis costs can very quickly become completely unaffordable.
How to pay for kidney dialysis: five resources
Although dialysis is expensive, help is within reach. Our team has compiled a list of resources ranging from federal and state programs to nonprofit organizations that will help pay for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
1. Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that is available to a person of any age who requires dialysis. Medicare Part A covers the costs if you receive dialysis as part of hospital care. Medicare Part B covers outpatient doctors’ services. Medicare Part C, also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan, is a Medicare approved health plan from a private company that can cover the costs of Part A and Part B combined. Medicare Part D gives prescription drug coverage.
Despite this help, dialysis patient is accountable for handling insurance premiums, coinsurance, copays, and yearly deductibles on their own. Here is a breakdown of the different Medicare programs available for dialysis patients:
Medicare Part A
- Part A, referred to as hospital insurance, covers inpatient hospitals, healthcare facilities such as hospices and inpatient rehabilitation, and some home health care services.
- There is no monthly premium if you have enough work credits, but you must pay a deductible for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states that in 2025 the deductible is $1,676 from the first day of a hospital stay until day 60. From day 61 to day 90 there is a coinsurance cost of $419 per day.
Medicare Part B
- Part B, referred to as medical insurance, means Medicare pays for outpatient doctors’ and hospital services, some home health services and other outpatient services not covered by Part A. The National Kidney Foundation states that Part B covers 80% of outpatient dialysis costs for ESRD patients and also immunosuppressant drugs for people who have had a kidney transplant.
- In 2025, the total monthly premium set by the CMS ranges from $185 to $628 depending on your income, and monthly premiums for immunosuppressive drugs range from $110.40 to $552.10 depending on your income.
Medigap
- Medicare supplement insurance, known as Medigap, is provided by a private health insurance company. It can help with out-of-pocket costs such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles that you can be charged as part of Original Medicare (where you are signed up to Parts A and B of Medicare). You can find more information at medicare.gov.
Medicare Part C
- Also known as Medicare Advantage Plan, this is a Medicare-approved plan for health and drugs coverage from a private company. It often bundles together parts A, B and D of Medicare. This plan may have extra benefits that you wouldn’t get access to through Original Medicare (which lets you use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare) but you could also get caught out by different out-of-pocket costs, as you can often only use doctors who are in-network to your specific plan.
Medicare Part D
- This is a prescription drug coverage plan from Medicare-certified insurance companies and private companies. It is optional, but remember that when you become a Medicare beneficiary you have six months to enroll in Part D if you want to, after that there is a penalty.
2. Medicaid
Free or low-cost health coverage is provided by Medicaid for low-income families and children, seniors, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. Every state has its own Medicaid program that adheres to rules set by the federal government.
Medicaid may pay for services that Medicare doesn’t cover and can be vital for patients who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for Medicare by covering most dialysis and expenses for kidney transplant services.
3. The Social Security Administration
Another federal program that can provide financial assistance is the Social Security Administration:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) gives monthly funds to people who can’t work and have paid enough Social Security taxes. SSDI may be an alternative for those who have an illness or injury that SSDI believes will prevent an individual from working for at least one year. A five-month waiting period is in place before receiving SSDI payments.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) gives monthly funds to disabled adults and children who lack income and other financial assets. An individual who receives SSI may also be eligible for Medicaid and food stamps.
4. Crowdfund for dialysis costs
Even with financial assistance from federal and state programs, the cost of dialysis can still be overwhelming. If you or someone you know needs additional support, consider turning to crowdfunding. With crowdfunding, you can quickly and easily fundraise for dialysis treatment. Crowdfunding has many benefits:
- There are no long wait periods to get your funds, which can be directly deposited into your or your beneficiary’s bank account.
- There is no application process.
- You can easily share your online fundraiser with friends and family on social media, in emails, or through text messages.
- You are able to reach people beyond your friends and family.
Asking for help is no easy task, but crowdfunding takes some of the fear and pressure off. Countless people start medical fundraisers on GoFundMe every day, raising money for everything from surgery costs to expensive long-term medical treatments. Before starting your own, learn how to successfully raise more money by checking out our medical fundraising tips and medical crowdfunding guide.
5. American Kidney Fund
The American Kidney Fund (AKF) is a nonprofit organization that provides charitable premium assistance to low-income dialysis patients.
Its Health Insurance Premium Program (HIPP) gives long-term financial assistance to individuals so they can pay for health insurance to cover the costs of their dialysis treatment. HIPP helps to cover a range of medicare costs and health insurance plans. Find out if you meet the eligibility criteria at the American Kidney Fund’s website.
Find help with dialysis costs today
There is no question that dialysis treatment is expensive, but that doesn’t mean it should put a financial barrier between you and the care you need. Through crowdfunding, it’s possible to afford dialysis so you can focus your time and energy on your health. Tell your story and share your fundraiser to your close network and beyond. Your friends and family want to help you more than you know, and you may be surprised by the outpouring of support from your community, both locally and nationally. All it takes is getting started.