Insurance and budget

Pre and Post-Transplant Budget:

• Budget for copays associated with required medical tests and consultations during the initial evaluation phase. These tests often include tests such as routine blood work, Cardiac testing, Cancer screenings, Colonoscopies, and Pap smears.

• Budget for travel expenses, including flights to the transplant center and one to two days of hotel accommodation.

• Budget for routine medical tests as part of your post-transplant follow-up care. These tests typically include routine blood work and typically decrease in frequency the further out you are from surgery.

• Budget for post-transplant medication. This will include medications specific to your body's reaction to the surgery and will include daily immunosupressant medications for an extended period of time following the transplant. Copays for immunosupressant medications typically range between $20-$40 with insurance, and can be over $1,000 without.

Health Insurance:

• Explore commercial insurance options that provide flexibility in choosing transplant centers, allowing you to travel out of state if necessary. Consider potential limitations on network facilities and evaluate the trade-offs between in-network and out-of-network coverage

• Check your Medicare eligibility under the End Stage Renal Disease ('ESRD') benefit. Benefits typically begin after three months of starting dialysis or at the month of transplant. Supplemental insurance, often through Medicaid, may cover the remaining 20% of transplant costs not covered by Medicare.

• Review individual health insurance plans available in your state, considering coverage for pre-existing conditions and transplant procedures. Platforms like The Health Insurance Marketplace offer options for finding suitable individual insurance plans if you're self-employed or without insurance.

• Consider additional financial assistance support programs as needed such as Go Fund Me and Help Hope Live.