Cuts force transplant patient to take chances.

But then she was told it would take four months for Social Security to decide whether she was disabled, and there was no guarantee, especially since she was in good health.

And if she applied for disability, she said, she was told she'd have to give up her widow's pension.

"One or the other," she said.

So she didn't apply.

If you are 65 or disabled, Medicare will pay for anti-rejection drugs for life. But for healthy transplant recipients younger than 65, Medicare covers only three years.

Jean is now in her fifth year.

The National Kidney Foundation is lobbying Congress to extend the drug coverage for life for all transplant recipients.

"We believe this is a cost-saving measure," said Leslie Spry, a kidney specialist and spokesman for the foundation. "To let people go back on dialysis just because they can't afford the drugs is silliness."

Medicare spent on average $71,000 a year per dialysis patient in 2006, and $17,000 on average per recipient for transplant drugs.

"Why would you not spend for anti-rejection drugs to avoid dialysis?" Spry asked.

Twelve percent of failed kidneys annually are due to an inability to obtain the medicines, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

With no help from Medicare, Jean then applied for medical assistance from the state - insurance for the poor. But her 2007 income was too high, and she was denied. (She tried again this summer. Still denied.)

When Jean realized she was on her own in February, she called insurance companies, one after another. When told of her kidney transplant, they wanted no part of her.

She could not buy affordable insurance.

She asked a Wal-Mart pharmacy how much her anti-rejection medicines cost for one month. Rapamune was $790. Myfortic, $1,200.

Her monthly income was $1,200. She had to pay for rent, food and heat. How could she afford medicines?

Jean didn't panic. After the deaths of her daughter and husband and other hardships, she was familiar with adversity. And she believes the Lord will either provide for her or call her home. She is content either way.

Before Jean left her job, her doctor wrote prescriptions for three months of anti-rejection drugs.

Instead of taking the recommended dosages, she cut them in half, even a third.