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CostHelper > Health & Personal Care  > Medical Specialties & Departments > Dialysis

Dialysis Cost


How Much Does Dialysis Cost?

 
low costLow: Coinsurance of 20%average costWithout Insurance: $500+ Per Treatmenthigh costEmergency Treatment: $9,900+ Per Treatment

Dialysis is used during end-stage kidney failure to replace the functions of the kidneys -- including waste removal and regulation of blood levels of potassium and sodium.

Typical costs:

  • Dialysis is covered by health insurance. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically include the deductible, and coinsurance for the treatment cost. For example, with Medicare, a patient, once the deductible of about $150 is met, typically would pay coinsurance of 20%; but many Medicare patients also have secondary insurance to cover all or part of that cost. A study published in Health Affairs[1] showed that the average U.S. patient pays $114 for dialysis-related drug costs and about $10 in dialysis costs per month.
  • For patients not covered by health insurance, a single hemodialysis treatment typically costs up to $500 or more -- or, about $72,000 or more per year for the typical three treatments per week. Injectable medications and vitamins can add hundreds of dollars to the cost, depending on what is prescribed. For example, DaVita[2] , which has many dialysis centers across the United States, charges about $480 for a dialysis treatment, not including medications. A dialysis center in Ohio quotes a rate of more than $1,400 but will negotiate with self-pay patients.
  • An emergency, unscheduled dialysis treatment at a hospital can cost much more; for example, Baptist Memorial Health Care in Memphis charges about $9,900 for a single treatment. For peritoneal dialysis, the main costs consist of medical supplies to perform the procedure at home -- so it is slightly less expensive than hemodialysis. According to the U.S. Renal Data System, one year of hemodialysis can total $72,000; a year of peritoneal dialysis can cost about $53,000.
  • Most patients with end-stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare; however, there typically is a waiting period of up to four months before coverage starts (or, if the patient is insured through an employer group health plan, that plan will be the primary payer for 30 months). Medicare.gov[3] has information on Medicare and end-stage renal disease. Medicare Part B, which is necessary to get dialysis benefits, costs more than $100 per month.
Related articles: CT Scan, MRI, Biopsy

What should be included:
  • In continuous peritoneal dialysis, which typically is done several times per day or at night by a machine, a cleansing solution is pumped via a catheter into the abdomen. A membrane in the abdomen draws wastes, excess sodium and fluids into the solution, which is then drained out of the body. The process must be repeated several times per day or continuously at night. In hemodialysis, which typically is done three or more times per week, the patient sits in a reclining chair as the blood is removed and run through a filter in a machine, then returned to the body.
  • The National Institutes of Health has overviews of peritoneal dialysis[4] and kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/hemodialysis/>hemodialysis. The American Association of Kidney Patients has an article on home hemodialysis; dialysis provider DaVita offers a primer[5] on dialysis drugs and vitamins.
Additional costs:
  • Hemodialysis requires surgery to create vascular access, while peritoneal dialysis requires surgery to insert a catheter in the abdomen. According to the U.S. Renal Data System, these costs can range from about $1,000 to $7,500 or more.
  • For hemodialysis at home, special plumbing and wiring will need to be added for about $1,250-$2,000, according to the American Association of Kidney Patients. Dialysis patients need to follow a special diet under the guidance of a dietician. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse[6] offers a primer on dialysis and diet. Many hospitals have dieticians available; an initial consultation can cost $100-$200.
Discounts:
  • Some hospitals and/or states provide free dialysis to uninsured patients who cannot afford it. The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems offers a member directory[7] by zip code.
  • State kidney programs often offer help paying for care of kidney patients in need. The National Kidney Foundation[8] has a primer on resources for help paying for dialysis and related costs. And the American Kidney Fund[9] offers grants to help with costs.
Shopping for dialysis:
  • A primary care physician can provide a referral to a nephrologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases and disorders of the kidneys. A nephrologist should be certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine[10] and should have undergone several additional years of intensive training in nephrology and passed an ABIM exam.
  • The American Association of Kidney Patients has a list of pros and cons of peritoneal dialysis vs. hemodialysis.
  • Medicare.gov[11] has a dialysis center locator.
  • Medicare.gov also provides a list of questions to ask at a dialysis center[12] and questions to ask a doctor[13] about dialysis.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
 
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
In-center dialysis costs
Amount: $64.00
Posted by: Nutmegger in Somewhere, CT.Posted: December 10th, 2020 02:12PM
As of Dec 2020, DaVita is charging $7876 per treatment, or $1.23 million annually. The associated physician charges $860 per month, or $9984 annually. My insurance company pays $256 per treatment and I pay $64. Insurance pays $244 towards doctor's fees and I pay $61. My annual costs are $6700 (my insurance's out-of-pocket maximum).
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Dialysis
Amount: $125.00
Posted by: MarcosMark in Chicago, IL.Posted: December 18th, 2019 06:12AM
Medical Center: St. Luke’s Med Center - ManilaPhysician:
Paid cash for hemodialysis treatment 3x per week at hospital as Medicare does not pay out of country so weekly was $375. In Chicago, the same would have been $7,500 per week. And, they used newer machines in Manila. This is the top hospital in the Philippines.
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Dialysis
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: MCJ in Iowa, IA.Posted: November 14th, 2019 11:11AM
Medical Center: FreseniusPhysician:
I do PD but so far haven’t had a single bill! I am under 18 though and am on Medicaid so I’m assuming it’s just covered by the state if your still a minor? But If you have ESRD at any age and are on Medicaid I believe you HAVE to get Medicare in addition which also pays those costs 🤷‍♀️
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Home dialysis cost
Amount: $52,000.00
Posted by: Ronald Guatafson in Asheville, NC.Posted: September 24th, 2019 06:09PM
Medical Center: DavitaPhysician: WWprd Simms
We were told Medicare covers dialysis, home dialysis. Supplies and port surgery Received a surprise bill. 5 months 52,000.
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Dialysis
Amount: $0.00
Posted by: Chig in Mission Viejo, CA.Posted: July 30th, 2019 03:07PM
Medical Center: DaVita Mission ViejoPhysician:
I was without insurance for 4 months while waiting for Medicare to fix their problems. DaVita charged me $75000 per month or so for a total of $223000.
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Cost of dialysis
Amount: $4,300.00
Posted by: Judith Caroline Williams in Gaston, SC.Posted: July 3rd, 2018 05:07AM
Medical Center: Gaston dialysisPhysician: Nassiri
Boy are your charges off base. I’ve never been charged less than $2800 per treatment
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dialysis
Amount: $14,000.00
Posted by: sue heimburger in mount laurel, NJ.Posted: December 5th, 2017 12:12PM
Davita Dialysis is charging $20,000.00 per week ( 3 treatments) for a cost of 1,040.000.00 /year. after repricing is is 14,000.00 per treatment for a yearly cost of 728,000.00. How can they get away with that kind of increase. And in NY it is even higher.
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Cost of Supplies associated with dialysis at Center
Amount: $1,100.00
Posted by: Ray G in Culpeper, VA.Posted: April 5th, 2016 04:04AM
Medical Center: Davita Dialysis C. 22701Physician:
The $1100 per month charge is the 20% Medicare will not cover for the supplies associated with the dialysis treatment. Coverage is through Humana that provides primary and secondary Medicare health insurance. Was told secondary will not pick this up because it is for supplies. This will amount to over 13K per year. Wish it were the $120.00 average you quote above.
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Dialysis
Amount: $4,386.00
Posted by: D girl in Sacramento, CA.Posted: February 9th, 2016 09:02PM
Medical Center: Rai care center northern CaliforniaPhysician:
There are 12 charges of $4,386.80 for on month of treatment. 3 times a week. So why 13 seperates charges. Is this normal?
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External Resources:
  1.  content.healthaffairs.org/content/27/1/89.full.pdf+html
  2.  www.davita.com/unsupported-browser.cfm
  3.  www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10128.pdf
  4.  kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peritoneal/
  5.  www.davita.com/unsupported-browser.cfmdialysis/treatment/common-drugs-prescribed-f...
  6.  kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/eatright/
  7.  isgweb.naph.org/isgweb/membership/memberdirectorysearch.aspx
  8.  www.kidney.org/transplantation/transAction/pdf/5_MoreSourcesofFinancialHelp.pdf
  9.  www.kidneyfund.org/patient-grants/safety-net-grants/
  10.  www.abim.org/online/contact.aspx
  11.  www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/(S(nquynfjqclkwdjhdm5lsc1vo))/search.aspx...
  12.  www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/(S(1zl4rfffe213eg5eihb0j0tl))/search.aspx...
  13.  www.medicare.gov/dialysisfacilitycompare/(S(nngr5m311ng2raiteiqceuve))/search.aspx...
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