Financial Assistance with Pancreas Transplant Costs

If your pancreas is no longer functioning properly, there is hope. Pancreas transplants are becoming increasingly common and more successful than ever in helping people who have encountered pancreatic issues.

So, how much does a pancreas transplant cost? The average pancreas transplant cost varies depending on the technique. Pancreas transplant techniques and research are growing more scientifically sound and effective, recent studies suggest.

Getting Help with a Pancreas Transplant

Finding funding for a pancreas transplant can seem daunting, but it is far from impossible. We know that raising support and finances can be intimidating, but there are many people who have had success securing pancreas transplant financial assistance. Insurance will likely pay a portion of the cost of the transplant, but for other expenses, it’s important to get extra funding in place in fact, it may be required by your transplant hospital before you join the waiting list.

How Much Does a Pancreas Transplant Cost?

Consulting firm Milliman tallies the average costs of different organ transplants in the U.S. before insurance. While costs will vary depending on the hospital, the total cost of a pancreas transplant typically falls at more than $408,000 before insurance. There are many components that contribute to this estimate:

Costs Before Surgery

30 days leading up to the operation, a pancreas transplant recipient can expect costs of about $17,900.

How much does a pancreas cost?

The procurement of the pancreas itself costs around $118,000.

Costs During Surgery

After the organ has been secured, and the patient has been prepared for the surgery, hospital costs can be expected:

• Hospital Transplant Admission: $151,000
• Physician Labor During Transplant: $23,000

Post-surgery Costs

180 days post-transplant discharge costs can add up to well over triple the pre-transplant costs, with an estimated $77,700. And, lastly, medications such as OP Immuno-Suppressants and other prescriptions will cost an average of $26,500.

Transplant Surgery and Recovery Time

Once a matching donor has been found, the typical surgery for a pancreatic transplant lasts four to six hours. Patients will be expected to spend 10-14 days in the hospital. However, care does not end with the transplant and initial recovery. Patients will need regular tests to monitor the transplanted pancreas.

There are many medical institutions across the nation capable of performing a pancreas transplant. With modern advancements, there are innovative options for transplant, including a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant, a solitary pancreas transplant, or a pancreas-after-kidney transplant. All these possibilities allow more patients to have access to safe treatment options.

Securing Financial Assistance for a Pancreas Transplant

Help Hope Live establishes support for pancreas transplant patients. Through community-based fundraising, our nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping those in need to raise funds for medical treatment costs associated with a pancreas transplant.

Most Common Pancreas Transplant Costs

Wondering which costs to anticipate on the road to a pancreas transplant? Here are some of the most common expenses faced by pancreas transplant recipients or candidates.

• 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 wages
• Living donor costs, including lost wages, transplant testing, and post-transplant medical care

Post-transplant immunosuppressants, which a transplant recipient must take for the life of their new organ

How Does Pancreas 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

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?

Thousands of transplant families have raised funds for transplants through Help Hope Live.

Here are just a few of them:

“They made the fundraising aspect of the transplant process a lot less intimidating.”

Living with complicated heart concerns since birth, Elizabeth Lynne Burrus Barnett turned to Help Hope Live for transplant fundraising once listed for a transplant. Out-of-pocket cost estimates included months of medical relocation and hundreds of dollars per month for medications. With support from our team, Elizabeth raised $14,000 in four months and got her transplant.

“Truly a great fundraising experience for help with my medical bills and so much more.”

Joanna McCray is a proud Help Hope Live Ambassador who received a transplant in 2018. Unable to work following a diagnosis of end-stage kidney disease, Joanna needed assistance to cover multiple out-of-pocket costs, including medical travel and caregiving in addition to post-transplant medications.

“We highly recommend Help Hope Live. They care.”

A survey of Help Hope Live clients revealed that fundraising reduced stress, improved their ability to pay bills, and lessened feelings of being a burden following a medical crisis. 94% of Help Hope Live clients recommend us to other patients.