If you are already on the list for a transplant at one hospital, national transplant policy allows you to register at other hospitals. When a person gets on the list at a hospital, they are usually considered for organs from a donor in that area first. So it makes sense that if you are on multiple lists, you will be considered for donor organs that become available in more than one area, upping your chances of a quicker road to transplant.
Check with you insurance carrier and the hospital you were primarily worked up at. While it doesn't guarantee a quicker kidney, The Kidney Group thinks it makes sense. And before you change insurances, check their policy regarding this and other transplant matters. Better check than an unpleasant surprise after you have changed plans. We had a patient last month in clinic that switched to a Medicare replacement plan only to find out she could not continue on the list at a local transplant center(where he had been waiting 11 months)but instead must travel 7 hrs to another northern city to a new center-and his situation at home makes this travel very difficult. But it is what his new Medicare replacement policy calls for. Unfortunately, we do get patients whose insurance plan requires them to be at only 1 center-sometimes far from home. This makes the task of getting a transplant daunting..so look before you leap on changing insurances.
Check with you insurance carrier and the hospital you were primarily worked up at. While it doesn't guarantee a quicker kidney, The Kidney Group thinks it makes sense. And before you change insurances, check their policy regarding this and other transplant matters. Better check than an unpleasant surprise after you have changed plans. We had a patient last month in clinic that switched to a Medicare replacement plan only to find out she could not continue on the list at a local transplant center(where he had been waiting 11 months)but instead must travel 7 hrs to another northern city to a new center-and his situation at home makes this travel very difficult. But it is what his new Medicare replacement policy calls for. Unfortunately, we do get patients whose insurance plan requires them to be at only 1 center-sometimes far from home. This makes the task of getting a transplant daunting..so look before you leap on changing insurances.
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