You can try this site as a start for flights: http://www.mercyflightcentral.org/about.html
And a site that may provide some funding insight: http://www.transplantliving.org/before-the-transplant/financing-a-transplant/directory/

These issues pop up because without the transport arrranged and post-op medication funding in place, the whole process falls apart. Tis tough to get all this resolved...

Hugs,
Dennis

Most places insist you live with in an hours driving time, or move to where the hospital is.
Doesn't your insurance cover the drugs also?
Check out the web sites Dennis gave you and maybe it will help. I went thru all the testing, but heath concerns kept me off the list, however the transplant team said they would not transplant anyone that would go broke getting the meds or the operation. And they had a financial planner to help qualify a person without insurance or enough money, for medicaid. Your hospital should have a financial planner that is part of the transplant team.
Good luck
Brenda

Check out how far away you live and than search for air charter transportation. I don't understand why you need a medical lift if you can prove to them you can be there within 3 hours. I'm going through that with Seattle to Portland. There are several charter flight organizations that offer flights between our cities at reasonable prices. Before I figured that out I considered moving there or close by. I think you can find your own transportation. I have Medicare so don't know about your med thing. Years ago I had Aetna Insurance and they were wonderful, but like I said years ago.

Off the subject note, while I was in Seattle at their support group there was a lady there from New York who chose to move to Seattle to get her transplant.

thanks guys ffor your prompt reply - I do have aetna insurane but with all the changes i will have to check - there is a 1 hr window to get to cleveland from ny - and the clinic requires a medical plane - I have not yet been listed but want to have all my ducks in place so to speak.

thanks for your input.

Good morning Roe,
You are doing the right thing to have everything ready. Check the financial adviser or even your insurance to see if you can get help with the cost of the flight. If the clinic insists on that perhaps they have a way to help folks pay for it. Never hurts to ask.
Best Wishes
Brenda

Roe,

I don't know anything about this, but I wish you tons of luck in your journey to get the transplant! Let us know how you make out finding the info you need!

Boo

Some of the drug mfgs. will help. Are you on Medicare? If so, you will be in the Gap In January, or the first month after the transplant. After that you pay a small % as a copay.
If you have private insurance you might want to check with them.
Good Luck

Hi Roe, I am so sorry for you and your family, based on your note to DS.

You've read about my visit to my Pulmonologist last
Friday. After he "upgraded" my condition to severe, one of the things he, my wife, and I, talked about lung transplant. It wasn't what I wanted to hear "I'm too far gone for transplant". "Besides, he said, a lung transplant has its' place if the patient wants just a year ot two to live". We were puzzled by his comments. We then told him about a neighbor od ours who had emphysema real bad, and she had a transplant. Six months later .... she died of a massive infection throughout her respiratory system. One of the facts that a possible transplant patient has to, MUST, consider is the fact that the anti-rejection drugs that have to be taken kill the body's natural immune system. So, a transplant patient is actually trading one problem for one much worse!

Roe, you have to do your "homework" on this one. I'm not telling you that you shouldn't choose the transplant, I just want you to be aware that there is an awful lot more to it than just getting a new set of lungs and all you have to do is to take the antirejection drugs for the rest of your life!

wishing you all the best and all my love and prayers that you choose wisely! ((((((((( HUGS )))))))) Jim

Hi Roe, I hope you are getting all this worked out. I did not make the final cut to get a transplant , but hopefully you will.

Just make SURE you have been told about all the risks, side effects of the anti rejection meds, (diabetes, kidney failure, skin cancer ect,) lymphomas, rejection of the lung can happen anytime, you will still get pneumonia. colds, lung infections, ect. A transplant is NOT a cure for copd or any other lung problem.

None of this is to scare you of, I just want to make sure you are well informed on the pros and cons, and if you are able to handle any and all problems that might happen.

In my walk thru this, I have talked with several transplant folks that are so glad they had this done and were able to take any side effects, or problems in stride. Me, I was to nervous , and to much anxiety is not good , because my doctor and the psych doctor , both said high strung, anxious, nervous, people do not do well after transplant.

I hope you get the transportation worked out, and I have talked with several transplant people that have had their lungs for 4-5-and even 6 years. They were a few years younger than me.

Best wishes for a successful outcome
Brenda

My transplant doctor told me they can not guarantee how a person will respond after transplant. All he could guarantee was I would make it thru the surgery,(85%) and he would be there for me in case of rejection, diseases, other problems

Everyone is mentioning all the bad things that are going to happen. Some of them may happen, beware. One of the things they have you do (I am also in the process) is have you go to lung transplant support groups in your area. There you will find people who are struggling and people who have regained their health and have a full life. One man was going on 25 years. So, it is not all bad.

Sounds like you need to contact Aetna Insurance and find out what they will pay in regards to airlift and drugs. Looks like your are almost 65 and will be eligible for Medicare then, they pay about everything, except the airlift, they do pay for most of the drugs especially if you have a supplemental plan.

please see the info at:

http://regeneratinglungs.com

Roe, You mention that you have Aetna health insurance. You list your age at 69 so I would think that you would be eligible for Medicare (age 65). Have you checked to see if the anti rejection meds would be covered if you were on Medicare?

One thing I should mention is that as your age reaches 70, it becomes harder to get listed at some transplant facilities so be aware of this as you move along. I am sure that you have checked out all of this but I was caught in the age limits and lost the chance to be listed.

Also, I am pretty sure since you have been working at this for two years that you are pretty well aware of the risks involved. Everyone is right about it being a procedure that you don't take lightly but I am thankful that you are getting the chance to make that decision.

Kyleesnan had an excellent suggestion. Look in your area for a group that has people that have already been through the transplant procedure and try to get some of the answers you have about the costs and see what resources that you can find through the group.

My heart will follow you and you will be in my thoughts.

@ ronpeterson...That is an interesting article. I have lots of questions about regeneration being valid most especially about the development of new alveoli in patient #2.

I can understand her lung growing larger in size as she was working with only one lung and since the lung is a muscle, I suppose it would take on the work of the missing one if you exercised it enough.

I am probably way out in left field but it was interesting..........but very hard to read on the black background. :)

Mea culpa.....Should have turned my 02 up before saying that the lung was a muscle. Sorry guys.

Roe; I wish you the very best. Many have provided you with information; and I have benefited from reading those posts.
Good luck for a safe surgery and recovery.