Paying for kidney transplant

[jollor]

I was curious as to what I can expect to pay in relation to my kidney transplant. I've got my insurance through work and I also have medicare part A and B. From your experiences what can I expect in costs? I appreciate the help.

[okarol]

The finance office for your transplant center can give you a pretty good idea. It depends on if there are 2 surgeries (living donor to you) or one (non-living.)
Jenna's transplant bills are not all in yet (9 months later!) but it appears that with Medicare and Blue Shield we will have very little out-of-pocket expense (hers was a living donor.)

[MyssAnne]

So if it's non-living it's not as much as if it were living (donor). That makes sense.  I was curious too, glad you asked, jollor!!

[paris]

The financial co-ordinator will contact all the insurances involved and give you a work sheet with the costs and who pays what.  You shouldn't have much out of pocket expenses and they seem very willing to help find ways to pay for things you can afford.  Well, at least that is how mine did it--they all seem to do things differently.

[angela515]

Everywhere is different... I would talk to your financial person at your transplant center to find out everything in detail. For my living donor transplant, my mother's insurance (which I was under also) covered everything 100% for me and her, nothing out of pocket. For my non-living transplant, Medicare (A & B), and my Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplement paid everything 100%, again, no out-of-pocket for me again.

I did get the statement though, for both transplants, you know, so I could see how much it costs. The living donor cost more, obviously. Even with my living donor transplant being 8 years ago, it still cost more than my non-living transplant this year. 

[jollor]

Cool thanks for the information. I won't be having a living donor transplant. I'm currently somewhat patiently waiting on the list. Of course no one has sent me sheet estimating costs like you mentioned. I'll give my transplant center a call this week. Thank you once again everyone.

[goofynina]

Cool thanks for the information. I won't be having a living donor transplant. I'm currently somewhat patiently waiting on the list. Of course no one has sent me sheet estimating costs like you mentioned. I'll give my transplant center a call this week. Thank you once again everyone.

Please let us know what they tell you, and remember, if you dont hear back from them, keep calling, they will eventually give you what you need 

[livecam]

I was curious as to what I can expect to pay in relation to my kidney transplant. I've got my insurance through work and I also have medicare part A and B. From your experiences what can I expect in costs? I appreciate the help.

It sounds like you are in very good shape with your coverage.  I would expect that you will pay little or nothing!  Our expenses were really just incidental ones like gas, food, guest house charges for my family etc.  Even though all of our stuff was covered we received reams and reams of bills that we were not responsible for.  I think hospitals will often double bill hoping that there are a few people out there who won't catch on and who will write them a check.