The HUG program reduces the financial pressures experienced by home dialysis patients by reimbursing them for the extra utility costs—such as increased power and water bills—that come with dialyzing at home. Each recipient of the HUG Program will receive $1,300 annually, distributed in quarterly payments. There are no financial eligibility requirements, allowing all home dialysis patients to benefit from this support and reallocate funds to other essential needs.
Before The Kidney Foundation established the HUG program, home dialysis patients had to cover the extra costs of dialyzing at home on their own. The alternative was hospital-based dialysis, which came with additional expenses like travel, gas, and time off work. Home dialysis offers patients more flexibility, allowing them to dialyze on their own schedule and often more frequently, which can significantly improve their quality of life.
