Selecting where you will receive your transplant is one of the first major decisions you’ll face in the process. In fact, it often becomes the first or second step, right alongside another major factor: your insurance coverage.
These two decisions are closely connected. You may already have insurance that provides transplant coverage — something your dialysis social worker can help you confirm. But depending on where you live, you might have more than one transplant center available to you. This is where things can get complicated. Your preferred center may not be in network for your insurance plan, which could force you to consider either changing insurance or choosing a different transplant center.
Even if you live in an area with only one practical transplant center, you may still need to review your insurance options to make sure you have the best possible coverage and access to services.
It’s important to sort out these decisions before you begin the application process to be evaluated as a transplant candidate. Each transplant center has its own screening steps and requirements. For example, when I went through the University of Michigan/Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, the initial evaluation included basic medical reviews, chest X‑rays, extensive lab work, and meetings with a transplant surgeon, nephrologist, social worker, financial coordinator, and living donor coordinator.
If I had decided to switch to another center — even if it were feasible based on where I live — I would have needed to repeat that entire evaluation from the beginning.
This is why, although deciding to pursue a transplant may be one of the hardest choices you make, choosing the right transplant center can be one of the most important steps in the entire journey.
In future posts, I’ll explore additional factors to consider when selecting a transplant center, especially if you have multiple options. I’ll also cover what to think about if you’re relocating and need to identify a new center after your move.