Heart Transplant Financial Support: Finding Help

The miraculous feelings of joy and gratitude for life after a heart transplant shouldn’t be diminished by the cost of the life-saving procedure. Coping with the bills for everything from the transplant procedure to ongoing medical costs may seem daunting, but it is possible with the help of the right heart fundraiser strategy.

The first steps are knowing the expenses involved and researching which financial assistance options are available. The next step is considering a heart transplant fundraiser.

Associated Costs of a Heart Transplant

According to a January 2020 Milliman Research Report, the estimated cost of a heart transplant in the United States before insurance is $1,664,800. The breakdown of cost is as follows.

• Pre-transplant medical care needs (30 days): $49,800
• Organ procurement: $131,500
• Hospital admission for transplant: $1,062,600
• Physician cost for transplant: $111,100
• Post-transplant medical care needs (180 days): $270,300
• Immunosuppressants and other medications: $39,500

How Much Does a Heart Transplant Cost?

Financial assistance for heart patients who receive a transplant can be challenging to navigate. To add to the frustration, many transplant centers have a policy that potential transplant candidates must prove they have the financial resources in place to support the gift of life before they can be listed for transplant.

Financial support for heart failure patients is often essential, especially when you consider some of the additional costs:

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays
• Pre-transplant medications
• Unexpected pre-transplant hospitalizations
• Medical travel and temporary lodging while you are being listed for transplant
• Medical travel and temporary lodging when you receive the transplant
• Relocation or moving expenses due to the transplant
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for transplant-related medical travel
• Caregiver costs, including lost work

How Much Does Heart Surgery Cost with Insurance?

Unfortunately, medical insurance DOES NOT provide 100% coverage for heart transplants or post-transplant care in most cases.

Financial Assistance for Heart Patients

Helping heart failure patients find financial support is Help Hope Live’s goal. Through community-based fundraising, our nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping patients raise funds for the costs associated with a heart transplant.

How Does Fundraising for a Heart Transplant Work?

Fundraising with our nonprofit works as follows:

1. Submit a campaign request for assistance at helphopelive.org/get-started/apply
2. You’ll be paired with a Client Services Coordinator
3. Your Coordinator will provide you with one-on-one fundraising help, including personalized fundraising materials and guidance on how to rally your community, share your story on social media, reach out to the press, plan in-person or virtual fundraising events, and much more

How Is Help Hope Live Different from GoFundMe?

Help Hope Live differs from GoFundMe by:

• Verifying your medical need for complete donor confidence
• Enabling tax-deductible donations
• Providing one-on-one fundraising help
• Managing all funds raised to protect your state-based benefits (funds raised are not considered personal income/assets to you)

We are a nonprofit with over 30 years of transplant fundraising experience and a 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Does Fundraising Work?

Here are a few Help Hope Live heart transplant fundraiser success stories:

"I'm so happy to have Help Hope Live as my fundraising resource. They've been amazing to work with and have made the fundraising aspect of the transplant process a lot less intimidating."

Elizabeth Lynne Burrus Barnett has been living with complex heart issues since birth. Once listed for a dual heart and liver transplant, Elizabeth turned to Help Hope Live to fundraise for the overwhelming out-of-pocket expenses. Her estimates include six to nine months of medical relocation and hundreds per month for medications post-transplant. With personalized fundraising support from Help Hope Live, Elizabeth raised $14,000 in less than four months.

"He sees life in a whole new perspective now he will not take for granted one second of his new beginning."

Mark Curry developed leukemia while serving in the Marine Corps, and his subsequent treatment pathways left him with heart failure. To prepare for a dual heart and kidney transplant, Mark and his family began fundraising with Help Hope Live. Their anticipated costs included medical co-pays, home modifications for medical equipment, and travel to and from Mark’s transplant hospital. In March 2019, Mark received a successful transplant.

"The support I've received from Help Hope Live has made fundraising an easy process to understand."

Gregory Hal Wright was diagnosed with heart failure in 2007. With help from Help Hope Live, Greg rallied his community to help with the associated costs, including through press coverage, online donations, and in-person fundraisers with his alma mater. By the time Greg received a successful heart transplant in February 2020, his campaign had surpassed $18,000 raised.