Treatment for kidney failure is expensive, but Federal health insurance plans pay much of the cost of hospitalization and outpatient visits, usually up to 80 percent. Often, private insurance or state programs pay the rest. Your financial counselor and/or social worker can help you locate resources for financial assistance. For more information, see the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Financial Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure fact sheet.
Insurance
During your transplant evaluation you will meet with a financial coordinator. Your financial coordinator will review with you how your insurance covers your transplant and post transplant medications. It is important to note that insurance coverage within the same plan can change from year to year. It is your responsibility to keep abreast of insurance changes and how those changes may impact you post transplant.
Maintaining full insurance coverage is vitally important due to the ongoing costs associated with transplant and transplant medications. If you have a lapse in insurance or if your insurance changes it is important to notify our financial coordinator immediately.
Financial Assistance
Often the costs of transportation, housing and lost wages related to transplant and recovery can be very stressful. There are non profit fundraising sites that specialize with working with transplant patients and living kidney donors. Please contact our social workers who can assist with seeing if you are eligible for any other financial assistance.
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains a website called Transplant Living, which includes a page that lists common funding sources that may assist with the costs of transplant and contact information for pharmaceutical companies that may be able to assist with the costs of your medications.
The immunosuppressants and other medications you must take after your transplant will be a large part of your medical expenses. Most pharmaceutical manufacturers have patient assistance programs that give discounts to patients who can show that they can not afford the cost of their prescribed medications. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America publishes a directory of prescription drug patient assistance programs.
