Lung transplant funding assistance organizations

Second Wind Lung Transplant Association

Second Wind is dedicated to improving the quality of life for lung transplant recipients, lung surgery candidates, people with related pulmonary concerns and their families, caregivers and friends by providing support, advocacy, education, information, and guidance through a spirit of service, adding years to their lives and life to their years. www.2ndwind.org

BEF / Lung Transplant Grant Program

The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) Lung Transplant Grant Program is one way the Foundation works to give back to people with CF in the here and now, by helping families pay for the expenses that are not covered by their insurance.  www.esiason.org

Patient Airlift Services

Patient Airlift Services provides free medical flights to people who need to access medical care that may be too far to get to by car.  www.palservices.org

Help Hope Live

Help Hope Live is a medical fundraising website for the expenses insurance doesn’t cover. helphopelive.org

T-shirt fundraising

Bonfire and Custom Ink Fundraising allow you to sell custom t-shirts and take donations with no inventory, hassles, or risk. bonfire.com/ or customink.com/fundraising/  

National Foundation for Transplants

The National Foundation for Transplants provides fundraising expertise and advocacy for patients in need of an organ transplant. transplants.org

Children’s Organ Transplant Association

The Children’s Organ Transplant Association helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. cota.org

WCTF Helps Children

The World Children’s Transplant Fund (WCTF), is a non-profit organization dedicated to the increase of life-saving organ transplantation for children around the world. www.wctf.org

American Transplant Foundation

For transplant recipients, we help patients to keep the organ that keeps them alive by providing assistance to cover delinquent insurance premiums to prevent loss of insurance coverage, medication co-payments during insurance gap periods, and/or changes to insurance provider. www.americantransplantfoundation.org

Some state programs offer financial assistance to residents needing a transplant, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Check to see if there is a program specific to your state, too.

Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Georgia

In addition to employing one of these organizations, you could hold a community fundraiser to help with your costs. Patients have raised money through bake sales, yard sales, benefit concerts, and walks, for example. If you communicate your needs to the people around you, they will often rally to help. Your friends and family may feel helpless because they cannot do anything to improve your health, but they can organize fundraisers on your behalf.

Finally, think resourcefully. If you have a friend in the region of your transplant center and you have to relocate, ask him or her to spread the word that you are looking for temporary housing. Sometimes people will donate a room or a vacant house. Use social media to find connections. If you or a family member stays in hotels often, enroll in a rewards program and use the accrued points for lodging during your recovery period. The financial burden of a lung transplant is beyond most people’s normal scope of medical expenses. Don’t be too proud or embarrassed to ask for the help you need.