?Liver evaluation tests? + Good & bad news ?

[GrandmaBRZ]

Hi all of you good people!

Can anyone give me a ballpark figure of cost for liver evaluation tests and possible transplant.  I have searched online, called the Hep dept and cannot get an answer.  I am afraid to call my insurance co. right now because I have not yet gotten the referral.

I successfully completed hcv tx.  I am SVR.  However my latest MRI (5/05/09) shows "suspcicious (3) lesions" and
"it appears you have liver cancer",  The Hepatology dept. wants me to have evaluation tests and get on the transplant list.  I have compensated cirrhosis.

I am quite frightened about all this and the financial part of it as well.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you

Jenn, aka Grandmabrz

[GrandmaBRZ]

by GrandmaBRZ


  

, Jun 25, 2009 06:48PM
To: Mikesimon and Chlld24angel
Hi Mike and Elaine
Thanks for the responses.  Are your figures in addition to what insurance would cover?

My PA says I won't be able to get any breakdown from insurance until I get the referral and they know what will be recommended.

Hope all is well with both of you.

Jenn

[GrandmaBRZ]

Hi Mike and Elaine
Thanks for the responses.  Are your figures in addition to what insurance would cover?

My PA says I won't be able to get any breakdown from insurance until I get the referral and they know what will be recommended.

Hope all is well with both of you.

Jenn

[nygirl7]

Hey it's a lot less than I remember (never been good with numbers) this lady went to Taiwan where they have a 100% success rate and it's MUCH CHEAPER. She used to be on the forum with us here.

Eileen and her husband considered Thailand, India, China and other
countries that provide the service. However, they were concerned that
treatment success rate and survival rate of the countries were not
hopeful. They found out that Chang Gung Memorial in Taiwan was a
specialist in liver transplants. The hospital has achieved almost a
100% success rate and has a better survival rate than most hospitals.
They had a quote of $60,000 dollars from the hospital. Liver
transplantation would cost about $300,000 dollars in the USA.

[nygirl7]

Wasnt the cost just in that article from the woman from here that went abroad? I can't remember but I thought it was like $600,000 I'll have to look it was something staggering.

Grandma I am so sorry that you got this news but perhaps these tumors aren't benign somehow. I am going to pray that this is the case and go look for that number for you.

[mikesimon]

If you have good insurance then the evaluation and transplant will be paid for - less any deductible and up to the cap (if any) of your plan.
I was transplanted in June 2000 and I believe my surgery and hospitalization cost $450,000. I was only in the hospital 5 days so a longer stay would have been more.

This is the average from 2007
       Procurement   Surgery    Physician  Evaluation  Follow-up Immune Drugs  Total
Liver     $59,100     $248,100    $66,900     $25,900    $88,500    $31,100    $519,600

http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/finance/costs.aspx

Good luck,
Mike

[newleaf09]

I think you'll get some good estimates from other postersonce they see your message. Does your insurance co. have an online site?  Mine does and once you figure out which plan you are in you can usually look up what they'll pay for the various procedures and follow-up drugs.   Keep your fingers crossed until they get further into the diagnostic procedure; it may be treatable.  Can't hurt to be on the transplant list.