The following is an edited reprint of information compiled and created by the U.S. Government and which is featured on the site OrganDonor.gov.
Transplantation involves costs before, during, and after the actual transplant surgery. Costs include laboratory tests; transplant surgeons and other operating room personnel; organ procurement; in hospital stay; transportation to and from the transplant hospital for surgery and for checkups; rehabilitation, including physical or occupational therapy; and medications, including immunosuppressive or anti-rejection drugs, which may cost up to $2,500 per month. The average cost of transplantation in 2005 ranged from $210,000 for a single kidney to over $800,000 for multi-organ transplants such as liver-pancreas-intestine.
Planning for transplant surgery requires financial planning. Health insurance may cover some or most of these costs, but insurance policies vary widely. You should call your insurance company or your employer’s benefits office to get detailed information about how your insurance company handles the costs related to your specific situation.
In general, you are responsible for any costs not covered by insurance. You need to think about what resources you will use to pay the costs not covered by insurance. These resources may include savings, sale of property, or other sources. Fortunately, you do not need to face these decisions alone. Members of the transplant team, such as the transplant center’s social worker and financial coordinator (discussed below), can help you develop a financial plan and may be able to put you in touch with organizations that give financial assistance to transplant recipients.