The Transplant Journey

Our goal is to ensure referring health care professionals are aware of the help we can provide immediately after a specialist’s initial diagnosis – to help the patient navigate through this process earlier, leverage our resources sooner and make the process for the patient and their family much smoother.

The diagram below is meant to serve as a visual only. It is important to note that every patient has different needs and the journey is not the same for all patients.

 

Health care professional diagnoses patient to be in need of an organ transplant; patient contacts their insurance company to determine percentage of insurance coverage they will receive.

 

Transplant journey with NFT

 

Transplant journey without NFT

 
Patient contacts NFT who works with transplant center to assess financial need.
Patient travels to transplant center. Transplant center tells patient the actual surgery costs and outlines financial need prerequisite patient is responsible for covering.

With the help of NFT, both medical and everyday costs are estimated for a patient to empower them with knowledge. NFT can help provide grants and identify other supplemental funding that may help pay for these costs.

Prerequisite costs include: travel to transplant center, lodging and 20% of total surgery costs. Patient must provide financial proof of their ability to cover 20% of surgery costs through personal finances or liquid assets.
NFT can help patient secure 20% prerequisite financial need so that patient meets the financial requirements for initial placement on UNOS list (United Network for Organ Sharing).
Without proof of finances, patient will not be placed on UNOS waiting list and is directed back to their diagnosing health care professional or to contact organizations such as NFT to help with funding.

Transplant centers often require patients to maintain a health care plan while waiting for an organ match. NFT is able to assist with covering the costs of insurance premiums through grants to patients.

If a patient cannot afford to maintain their health care plan while waiting for an organ match, they are at risk of their insurance company denying coverage of the surgery should an organ become available.
With NFT’s assistance, patient provides financial proof that they can maintain their organs post-surgery despite the high costs associated with anti-rejection medicines.
If patient is matched with an organ, but cannot provide financial proof that they can maintain the organ post-surgery, they will be denied the organ and directed back to their diagnosing health care professional or to contact organizations like NFT for financial help.

SURGERY

NFT works with their pharmaceutical partners to ensure that patients can afford anti-rejection medicines required to maintain their organs post-surgery. These medicines are often needed for the duration of a patient’s life post-transplantation.
Organ recipients require anti-rejection medicines for the duration of their life. Most are not fully covered by insurance and are quite costly.

NFT can help with the living, lodging and travel expenses for patients and caregivers who are required to stay within a certain radius of the transplant center to manage the threat of organ rejection post-surgery through grants and patients.

Prior to surgery, if patients cannot provide proof they can afford the post-surgery living, lodging and travel expenses, they may be denied the organ and directed back to their diagnosing health care professional and/or to contact organizations such as NFT to assist with funding.

We look at the whole picture with you so there are no surprises – and you are financially prepared every step of the way.

Contacting us early in the process allows us to provide you with our entire array of resources and enables us to utilize them to your benefit to navigate the transplant process and cover costs. You do not need to wait until you are listed on the UNOS waiting list to begin the process with us.

From pre-transplant deposits and financial obligations – to post-transplant needs, such as travel, lodging, insurance premiums and long-term care – we are here to help make sure your ability to realize a second chance is not denied by an inability to pay.

For all of our success, there are more patients every year who need our help. Help us fulfill our mission.

DONATE TODAY
WAYS TO HELP

Donate Online
Volunteer
Find an Event
Become a Partner

RESOURCES

Patients and Donors
Research
Organ Donation
Living Donors
Become a Partner
Media Resources

LEARN MORE

Financial Information
News
Press
Media Inquiries
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Contact Us

Contact Us

1-800-489-3863

Follow Us
GuideStar 2022 Gold Seal