How Much is a Liver Transplant?
For those diagnosed with end-stage liver disease, liver transplantation offers hope and a new lease on life. However, this life-saving procedure can come at a significant cost. If you or a loved one is looking for a liver transplant, understanding the true costs is crucial to having a more complete picture of care. In this article, we’ll take a look at the costs of a liver transplant as well as some ways to receive financial support and navigate the cost of care.
What is a liver transplant?
A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that removes a patient’s diseased liver and replaces it with a healthy one. This donor liver most often comes from a recently deceased donor who has chosen to be an organ donor. In some cases, a living donor liver transplant may be performed, in which a person donates a portion of their liver, which grows back over time.
The liver plays a critical role in human well-being. Its main functions are to detoxify harmful substances by filtering toxins from the blood, produce essential proteins, produce bile to aid the digestive process, and store certain vitamins and minerals. When the liver can no longer function adequately, a transplant is necessary. American liver transplant candidates often must join an organ donation/transplant waiting list to get a liver transplant. Donor matching involves a number of factors, including body size, blood type, and more.
There are a few main conditions that can lead to needing a liver transplant:
- Chronic liver disease: Also known as cirrhosis, this is a long-term disease that occurs as a result of scar tissue replacing healthy liver tissue, stopping the liver from functioning properly. Long-term alcohol abuse, viral infections (such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, autoimmune diseases, or genetic disorders can all cause chronic liver failure.
- Acute liver failure: A sudden and severe impairment of liver function. Drug overdose, viral infections, autoimmune diseases, or other factors can cause acute liver failure.
- Liver cancer: Growth of cancer cells within your liver. Cancerous cells may develop directly within your liver or may develop elsewhere and spread to your liver.
No matter why you need a liver transplant, obtaining a new liver can provide you with hope and improve your quality of life. However, the costs of a liver transplant can be a barrier to receiving care.
What are the costs of a liver transplant?
Liver transplantation can be costly, with a 2020 study finding that the average billed cost for a liver transplant was $878,400. This number includes many aspects of liver transplantation care, including:
- Pre-transplant medical care: Any consultations, blood tests, transplant evaluation, or care needed to prepare transplant patients for the liver transplant procedure.
- Organ procurement: The cost of getting a liver, which can cover retrieval and transportation fees. A 2021 study found that liver procurement costs could be over $75,000.
- Hospital and transplant surgeon costs: The largest expense for a liver transplant is the total hospital stay charges and the transplant surgeon’s fees. Combined, these could be up to $500,000.
- Post-transplant care: These follow-up care costs after surgery can include checkups with your transplant team, social worker, or a hepatologist, medications, additional lab tests, and any additional post-transplant medical care.
Of course, the actual costs of care for a liver transplant can vary widely on geographic location, the patient’s health condition, and surgeon and facility fees. For those in urban areas with more access to care, costs may be lower than those who live in rural areas with fewer options. A patient’s overall health can also affect total costs, as some patients may require additional pre-surgery care to prepare for a liver transplant. And, who performs the surgery and where they perform the surgery can also significantly affect the total cost.
The hidden costs of a liver transplant
While the actual cost of receiving a liver transplant can be quite expensive, it’s also important to consider the unseen costs associated with receiving a liver transplant. Here are some hidden costs that you should keep in mind:
- Lost income: Before surgery and during the months-long recovery period, you or your caregiver(s) may not be able to work. Therefore, consider the cost of lost income if you or a loved one cannot work.
- Travel and lodging expenses: If you live far from the transplant center or your doctors, you may also incur travel and lodging expenses. Depending on your specific surgery, this could be multiple trips each month. Therefore, it’s important to consider the total cost of travel.
- Caregiver expenses: During recovery, you’ll need a caregiver to help you perform many activities of daily living (ADLs). These caregiver expenses can add up.
- Living liver donor expenses: If you are utilizing a living donor, they may incur costs to provide a liver transplant, including their own travel expenses and lost wages.
- Emotional and psychological costs: A liver transplant is a life-altering event, and the well-being of the patient and their loved ones can be significantly affected throughout the entire experience. The transplant process can often cause stress and anxiety among everyone involved in such a big procedure. Therefore, you or your loved ones may require professional counseling help to work through these challenges, which can be an additional cost.
Crowdfunding for a liver transplant
You’ve seen the high cost of liver transplantation and post-surgery care. And if you or someone you love needs help getting the care you need, crowdfunding can provide supplemental financial support.
Whether you’re using insurance coverage, getting financial assistance, or needing to cover the entire surgery out of your own pocket, a GoFundMe can help provide additional financial resources so you can get the treatment you need. With GoFundMe, you can quickly and easily start fundraising for free. In just a few minutes, you’ll be able to start getting support for yourself, a loved one, or a friend.
Health insurance and financial assistance for a liver transplant
To pay for a liver transplant, many rely on insurance coverage or some form of financial assistance program. First, let’s cover the health insurance options and how they might provide help for liver transplants.
Private health care coverage
Many employed individuals participate in a private health care plan. This is a type of insurance plan in which an insurance company covers an entire group or organization. If you do not receive health care coverage from your employer, you can also purchase it directly from an insurance provider or through the Health Care Marketplace.
Since each healthcare company has its own plans, coverage for a liver transplant can vary based on your insurer. While insurance companies will cover some costs of care, the degree to which they cover these costs will differ. Very rarely will insurance companies cover the total care costs. To find out more about your individual plan, review the plan documents and then contact your insurer to learn more about their coverage.
Government health insurance plans
Another option for many individuals is to utilize a form of government health insurance. These programs can provide some help with the cost of liver transplant surgery.
Medicare
This is the government health insurance program for those over the age of 65 or those with disabilities or certain diseases. Medicare health plans provide hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B). They can also include Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, and the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Private companies contract with Medicare to offer these plans. Prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D) is also available.
According to Medicare.gov, Medicare Part A covers necessary labs, tests, and exams related to organ transplantation. Part A generally includes coverage for the costs of finding an organ and services for your liver transplant. Medicare Part B covers doctors’ services associated with your transplant. As far as the costs of the transplant and related services, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B services after the Part B deductible is met. The transplant must be performed in a Medicare-approved facility.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a state and federal program that helps cover medical costs for those with limited income and resources. Each state runs its own Medicaid program, following the general rules set forth by the federal government. Because each state is different, they may have other coverage requirements for liver transplants. Contact your state to learn more about Medicaid eligibility and your coverage options.
Financial assistance options
For those who lack insurance coverage, you may have to pay for the entire surgery cost. In this situation, there are some non-profit organizations that offer financial support for those who need help. These organizations include:
Those without insurance coverage may have to pay the entire surgery cost out-of-pocket. Luckily, some programs can help financially stressed individuals. Let’s examine some of these options.
For those who need help affording the cost of their surgery, the leading nonprofits that help with healthcare expenses include:
- The HealthWell Foundation: A leading nonprofit organization helping people afford healthcare costs. This foundation may assist with copays, premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.
- Patient Action Network (PAN) Foundation: A nonprofit organization that helps underinsured people with their out-of-pocket expenses. They may be able to help with the cost of gallbladder removal surgery.
In addition to reaching out to these nonprofits, another strategy is to work with the healthcare provider to agree on a repayment plan. Payment plans are fixed monthly payments over a set term in order to pay for the care you need. These repayment plans can be a better option than other financial options such as credit cards or short term medical loans because of their lower interest rates.
Navigating the financial challenges of a liver transplant
With the high cost of liver transplantation and continuing care, it’s crucial that patients and their loved ones know how to understand the costs. As you or your family prepare for a transplant, here’s what you need to consider to manage the financial road ahead:
- Understand your insurance coverage: As we’ve mentioned, insurance coverage for this procedure can vary, so it’s imperative that you discuss the costs and coverage details with your insurance provider. You may also work with a healthcare provider’s in-house financial coordinator, who can help you better understand these coverages and costs.
- Plan for ongoing expenses: As a result of a liver transplant, you will need to be on immunosuppressant medications, and you may need additional, ongoing care. Therefore, it’s important to understand what these costs may be as you prepare for surgery.
A liver transplant is a costly procedure, but it’s one that can give liver transplant recipients a new lease on life. Therefore, it’s critical that you understand the direct and hidden costs associated with receiving a liver transplant. As you try to get the help you need, sometimes the best solution is to ask. So if you’d like to reach out to a broader audience to get support, consider starting a GoFundMe. With GoFundMe, you can fundraise and find the help you need for your liver transplant.