Curative expands access to $0 out-of-pocket kidney care

Living with kidney disease means care isn't always a single appointment. For many people, it's an ongoing relationship with the healthcare system. That's especially true for people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), who may need dialysis multiple times a week on an ongoing basis.

Kidney disease is also more common among working-age adults than many realize. Roughly 1 in 10 working-age adults has chronic kidney disease, and many are unaware they have it. For individuals, families, and employers alike, that makes early detection, reliable access to care, and predictable costs especially important.

Curative is expanding the availability of dialysis in the home setting as well as access to kidney care through a growing network of nephrology and dialysis providers, including DaVita Kidney Care, alongside a number of other recently added regional kidney care practices. These relationships give members more options for where they receive care while maintaining what makes the Curative model different: $0 out-of-pocket covered care after completing the Baseline Visit, paired with hands-on care navigation and support. Search Curative's provider directory to see what's available near you.

Here's what you'll learn: how Curative supports kidney health from chronic kidney disease (CKD) through ESRD and dialysis, how our kidney care network is growing, and what $0 out-of-pocket coverage can mean for members who need ongoing care.

What is chronic kidney disease, and what is ESRD?

Your kidneys filter waste and extra fluid out of your blood. When they can no longer do that well enough on their own, it's called chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Early-stage kidney disease often has no symptoms, which means people can live with CKD without realizing it. Risk increases with conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity, as well as a family history of kidney disease.

CKD develops in stages, and its progression can often be slowed or managed with early detection and the right care. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the most advanced stage, when kidney function has declined to the point that dialysis or a transplant is needed to sustain life.

Dialysis filters waste and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do so effectively. Depending on a person's needs and treatment plan, dialysis may take place at a clinic or at home and is often required multiple times a week.

Because there's no blanket screening recommendation for the general population, nephrology guidelines prioritize CKD screening for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease — groups that may benefit most from early detection, before the disease progresses toward ESRD.

Whether you're managing early-stage CKD or ESRD, two things matter throughout the journey: getting the right care reliably and being able to afford to keep going.

Why access matters

Kidney disease can create significant costs over time, particularly when diagnosis comes late or treatment becomes more complex. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that CKD can account for 10% of an employer's annual healthcare costs.

Early detection changes the picture. Catching CKD before it progresses can open up more treatment options, including home dialysis, which the National Kidney Foundation associates with improved outcomes and lower costs compared to in-center treatment. For members, that can mean fitting treatment around work and daily life instead of an unplanned hospitalization followed by fixed in-center visits multiple times a week.

For employers and health plans, that makes earlier engagement, consistent access to care, and support before disease progresses especially important. For members, it means having a care model that reduces financial barriers and makes it easier to stay connected to ongoing treatment.

$0 out-of-pocket kidney care, with support built in

If you have a qualifying Curative Insurance plan, covered kidney care — from CKD management to ESRD and dialysis care — is available at $0 out of pocket once you've completed your Baseline Visit.

The Baseline Visit is a required visit within the first 120 days of your plan start date that connects you with a Care Navigator and Curative Clinician to build your care plan. After completing it, qualifying members maintain $0 copays and deductibles for covered in-network care.

For a condition that can require frequent appointments and long-term treatment, eliminating copays and deductibles is only part of the equation. Curative pairs $0 out-of-pocket covered care with navigation and an expanding set of provider relationships, helping give members both financial predictability and support accessing the care they need.

That's what preventive-first, early-engagement care can look like in practice: helping identify health needs earlier when possible, reducing financial barriers to treatment, and supporting members throughout more complex care journeys.

Support for complex kidney care

For members managing ESRD specifically, expanded provider access works alongside Curative's Care Navigators and Clinical Care Navigators, who provide hands-on support through complex medical journeys and transitions in care.

Kidney care can involve multiple specialists, recurring treatment, medications, testing, and changes in care settings. Navigators can help members understand their benefits, find appropriate providers, and work through the logistics that often come with ongoing treatment.

The goal is a more connected experience between the member, their providers, and their Curative care team — so members aren't left to manage every part of a complex care journey on their own.

What this means for Curative members and customers

For members, the expansion means more options for accessing covered kidney care — from CKD management through ESRD and dialysis — alongside $0 out-of-pocket costs after completing the Baseline Visit and support from Curative's care team.

For prospective members, it demonstrates how the Curative model is designed to work for both everyday healthcare needs and complex, ongoing conditions: combining expanding provider access, predictable costs, and early engagement.

For employers and brokers, kidney disease is both a workforce health issue and a significant source of healthcare spending. Curative's growing kidney care network supports a model designed to encourage earlier engagement, improve access to ongoing care, and make out-of-pocket costs more predictable for members — particularly as care needs become more complex.

Ninety-eight percent of Curative members complete their Baseline Visit, helping establish a connection with the plan and care team near the beginning of coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

CKD is a condition where the kidneys gradually lose the ability to filter waste and fluid from the blood. It develops in stages and often has no early symptoms.

What is ESRD?

End-stage renal disease is the most advanced stage of CKD, when the kidneys can no longer function well enough on their own and dialysis or a transplant is needed.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment that filters waste and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do it effectively on their own.

Is kidney care, including dialysis, covered at $0 through Curative?

Yes, for members with a qualifying plan who complete their Baseline Visit within 120 days of their plan start date.

How do I find an in-network kidney care provider?

Visit the Curative provider directory to search by location and specialty, and see which card to use.

What is the Curative Baseline Visit?

It's a required two-part visit — first with a Care Navigator, then with a Curative Clinician — completed within your first 120 days on the plan. It unlocks $0 coverage and helps build your personal care plan. Learn more about the Baseline Visit.

The Bottom Line

Kidney disease can require years of consistent care, and for people receiving dialysis, treatment may be part of life several times each week.

Curative is continuing to expand the places members can receive that care, with a growing network of nephrology and dialysis providers that includes DaVita Kidney Care and additional regional kidney care organizations across the country.

For members, that growing access is paired with what remains central to the Curative model: $0 out-of-pocket covered care after completing the Baseline Visit, predictable costs, and a care team available to help navigate the journey.

For employers, it means a healthcare model designed to address a costly chronic condition through earlier engagement, greater access, and fewer financial barriers for members.

Explore your coverage today.

Footnotes

*Members must complete a Baseline Visit within the first 120 days of their plan start date to maintain $0 copays and deductibles. Coverage is subject to the terms of the applicable plan.

**Provider participation, availability, locations, and services may vary. Members should consult the Curative provider directory to confirm current network status and availability. Reference to a provider does not imply endorsement of Curative by that provider.