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Planning for Transplant Costs

A bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT) is expensive. There are many resources you can turn to for help when planning for transplant costs.

National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) financial case managers can help patients with questions about transplant costs, insurance and issues concerning coverage. To talk to a confidential case manager, contact the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy.

Insurance coverage information

If transplant is a treatment option for you, contact your insurance company and ask to have a transplant insurance case manager assigned to you so you can learn what your plan covers. Some insurance companies pay for transplant and other costs related to transplant. Some pay few transplant costs or none at all.

If you have no insurance, find out if you are eligible for state or county programs or other forms of financial help. You will find services and financial support information at Patient Advocate Foundation Web site at www.patientadvocate.org.

To help you understand your insurance coverage, you may want to use some of the financial tools offered by the NMDP for transplant patients and their caregivers:

To find a worksheet on transplant coverage, see Insurance and Transplant Coverage Information.
For specific questions to ask your insurance company, see Mapping the Maze: A Patient's Guide. The guide also has budgeting worksheets and information to help you develop a financial plan.
If some of the terms you are hearing are new to you, it may be helpful to read the Glossary of Health Care Coverage Terms used by insurance and health care providers.

Planning for indirect transplant costs

To help you summarize your finances, you may want to use a tool created by the NMDP:

Planning for Indirect Transplant Expenses

This free, confidential and flexible resource creates a personalized financial report. Based on information you enter, the report:

Summarizes your current monthly income, household expenses and indirect transplant expenses
Highlights specific factors that may affect indirect expenses
Lists resources for financial planning advice and support

This personalized report may be helpful during discussions with your family and caregivers, a professional financial advisor, a case manager at the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy and your transplant center team.

Other potential financial resources

Most patients have costs not covered by their insurance. If you find your insurance does not cover some of your transplant costs, you may want to think about other financial resources that may be available to you. You may want to:

Ask your family and/or friends to hold a fund-raising event on your behalf. It is okay to ask for help. Fund raising is one way friends and family members may be able to help.
Ask your transplant center coordinator if you are eligible for funds from The Marrow Foundation^® Patient Assistance Program. This program offers financial assistance for transplant patients. The program helps patients who have limited insurance pay for NMDP Registry search costs and/or some post-transplant costs. You must live in the United States and need financial assistance to be eligible. Applications must be submitted by your transplant center.
Search for other organizations that can help provide financial support and/or information about financial resources that may be available to you and your family.