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.

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 Personal Insurance and Financial Guide to Marrow and Cord Blood Transplant. 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 additional transplant costs

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

• Calculating Additional 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 transplant-related costs not covered by their insurance. NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy staff can help you to work through insurance questions and coverage issue and act as an advocate on your behalf.

If you find your insurance does not cover some of your transplant costs, you may want to: 

• Ask your transplant center coordinator about the financial assistance program coordinated by the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy and funded by the Be The Match Foundation^SM. This program offers financial assistance for transplant patients.
• Search for other organizations that can help provide financial support or information about financial resources that may be available to you and your family.
  
• Ask your family and/or friends to hold a fundraising event on your behalf. It is okay to ask for help. Fundraising is one way friends and family members may be able to help.