Finding Financial Support for Lung Transplants

Nothing should overshadow a second chance at life, but the costs associated with a lung transplant are staggering. From the procedure to the medical support involved with recovery, a lung transplant can represent a significant financial burden.

In this post, you’ll learn how much a lung transplant costs, which costs insurance may not fully cover, and how to get help through a lung transplant fundraising campaign.

How Much Does a Lung Transplant Cost?

According to a 2025 report by Milliman, the estimated cost of a single lung transplant in the United States before insurance is $1,810,700. The typical costs for a lung transplant are are follows:

Common Costs for Lung Transplants

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments
• Medications, including anti-rejection immunosuppressants you may have to take for the lifetime of the organ
• Transportation to and from transplant center
• Air ambulance for emergency visits to transplant center
• Relocation or moving expenses due to transplant
• Temporary housing due to relocation
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for visits to transplant center
• Lodging expenses for patient and support person
• Hospital telephone and television privileges
• Uninsured transplant-related procedures

Which Transplant Costs May Not Be Covered by Insurance?

Beyond the surgery are plenty of additional expenses that patients must keep in mind. Many transplant centers have policies requiring that potential transplant recipients prove they can fund the medical costs of a transplant before they can join the waiting list for an organ.

Some of the additional costs that patients and families must consider include:

• 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

Financial Help Is Here

One solution that can provide financial assistance for lung transplant is fundraising. Help Hope Live is a nonprofit organization that allows lung transplant patients and their friends and family members to raise money for medical costs.

How Does Lung Transplant Fundraising 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