Medicare
A transplant operation is expensive. Most of the cost is covered by the Medicare program. Private insurance companies usually cover some of the costs if you were previously enrolled. Medicaid offers assistance to some people and the Texas Kidney Health Care Program offers some forms of financial assistance. Assistance offered by the Texas Kidney Health Program is aimed at covering costs that Medicare does not cover. The transplant social worker is aware of these and other resources available to transplant recipients.
Medicare provides coverage for medical care for three years after the transplant operation. If the transplant should fail and dialysis is reinstated or re-transplantation occurs after three years, Medicare coverage is again available.
Transportation costs to and from clinic visits are not covered. If expenses are a problem to you, let us know so that you and the social worker can explore available resources.
Medicare covers all the costs related to a living donor transplant, including all costs to the donor for testing and the hospital stay. The only cost to a donor that is not covered by Medicare is that of time lost from work when sick leave or vacation is exhausted or not available, and travel costs if travel is necessary. Most employers will allow standard sick leave for organ donors.
