The Cost

The Cost

The average cost for a double-lung transplant, in which both of the patient's original lungs are replaced with the donor lungs, is about $650,000. In addition to the initial costs of lung transplant, patients also incur annual costs for follow-up care. In addition to the initial costs of lung transplant surgery, patients also incur annual costs for follow-up care and prescription medications. The immunosuppressive drugs, which are required on an on-going basis to prevent the transplant recipient's body from rejecting the donor lung or lungs, can cost up to $30,000 per year. Lung transplant recipients also incur the cost of follow-up doctor's visits and tests to make sure the transplant is working correctly, and to continue to treat any related or underlying 
Medical costs include:

insurance deductibles 
insurance co-pays 
pre-transplant evaluation and testing 
surgery 
fees for the recovery of the organ from the donor 
follow-up care and testing 
additional hospital stays for complications 
fees for surgeons, physicians, radiologist, anesthesiologist and recurrent lab testing 
anti-rejection and other drugs, which can easily exceed $2,500 per month 
rehabilitation 
Non-Medical