Financial assistance for transplant recipients

There is a lot to think about when you plan for transplant, including how you will pay for it. Talking about money can feel very personal, but it is important to talk about it and learn about resources that can help.

If you need a transplant, it’s important to know how much it’ll cost. That way, you can find out what your insurance will pay and what you may have to pay.

Use the financial planning worksheet (Opens in a new tab) to help you learn more about how to pay for transplant costs.

Every health insurance plan is different. Even if your plan pays for blood stem cell transplant, it might not cover everything. You’ll also still likely have copays for medication and appointments. Understanding what your plan will and won’t cover will help prevent any surprises later down the road. We can help you start the conversation.

Understand your insurance

NMDP^SM can help you pay for medical and other expenses during transplant like:

• Searching for a donor
• Housing costs
• Travel to clinical trials

Someone from your transplant team must submit the application for you. They can learn about our Patient Financial Assistance Program and apply on your behalf on network.nmdp.org (Opens in a new tab).

You may want to consider fundraising to help you pay for extra costs before and after transplant. It’s also a way family, friends and coworkers can help out. Access tips to keep in mind when you’re considering fundraising.

Get fundraising tips

After leaving the hospital, you may still be managing costs not covered by insurance and new costs for things like hotels, copays, parking and medicines.

Some unexpected expenses could include:

• Travel costs. After you get home, you may need to return to the hospital or to your clinic. Travel expenses can add up if the hospital or clinic aren’t near your home.
• Medication costs. You will likely be required to take many different medications after transplant. How much of the cost insurance will cover can vary widely and you may need to pay out-of-pocket.
• Switching to a one-income household. You may not be able to return back to work as quickly as you’d like or be able to return to the type of work you were doing before. You may need to rely on your partner or family member’s income while you recover.

Thankfully, there are people to help you as you plan for these changes. Two that you may want to consider are:

1. A financial planner, who will be able to assess your finances and suggest options. Some ways to save money may include applying for medical disability through social security, cutting back on subscriptions, going out to dinner less often or buying used products instead of new.
2. A counselor, who can help you communicate with your partner or family member during these changes to share expectations, thoughts and emotions. A counselor can help you bring issues related to finances to the surface and provide tools that foster open communication.