What is the cost of cord blood banking?

Do I have to store cord blood locally and how much per year should I expect to pay for cord blood banking?

I found this from one of the doctors on here but doesn't really go into the costs:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/100674/To-Cord-Blood-Bank-or-Not-to-Cord-BlankThat-is-the-Question

[seattlemom2plus]

I don't know too much about Cord Blood Banking but I just received this newsletter this morning from MedHelp on it and there is a contest running:

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/235350/4b9141a1f3/458004821/3afe382985/

Hope this helps.

[ChitChatNine]

Thanks Seattle--- this is super info for everyone regarding Cord Blood.  I got mine in my MedHelp Newsletter this morning, too.

[adgal]

We banked our babies cord blood last year.  Our initial cost was about $1000 and we pay an annual storage fee of $125. We opted for a private company which ensures that only our family can access it.  We did not have a cord blood bank locally, so ours is banked at a facility one province west of us.  We are in Canada, so not certain if costs are the same where you are.

[seattlemom2plus]

I honestly have no idea on what the cost is here in the states, we are west coast too so definitely would be interesting to know.  Thanks adgal for posting a ballpark figure.

[betterhealth4me]

I am seeing too that the prices vary. I guess the best thing is to call around and do some research here locally.

[seattlemom2plus]

I actually was talking about this in my journal if you want to see what some of the other women wrote:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/309638/Is-anyone-doing-Cord-Blood-Banking?personal_page_id=2138151

[ChitChatNine]

Thanks - this is all super info on the cost of blood cord banking!

[betterhealth4me]

Thanks everyone this gives me such a great start :)

[seattlemom2plus]

No problem, hope this helped, I am still learning about it all too :D