Fundraising to help cover out-of-pocket costs

Blood or marrow transplant (also known as blood stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant) can have many costs that aren’t covered by your insurance. These can include lost wages and out-of-pocket costs like copays for prescriptions and doctor visits or travel and housing if the transplant takes place far from your home.

To help cover these expenses, many patients choose to fundraise.

Remember, it’s okay and normal to ask for help. Friends, family, coworkers and members of your local community will often want to help fundraise so you can focus all your time and energy on treatment and recovery.

If you decide to fundraise, there are a few things that you should consider:

• Confirm your benefit eligibility: Fundraising may impact Medicaid or SSI eligibility if donations are counted as income or assets. Check with your state Medicaid office before starting.
• Use a separate bank account: Keep donated funds in a separate bank account to avoid mixing with personal expenses.
• Get familiar with your area’s tax laws: Gifts are usually not taxable to you, but donors may need to follow the gift tax rules set by the IRS. You should also consider working with a recognized nonprofit that can ensure donations are tax deductible. Talk with your tax accountant if you have questions about gift tax rules.
• Keep detailed records: Track all donations and how funds are used. This helps with transparency and in case of audits or benefits reviews.
• Start early and get help: Fundraising will be most effective if you start before your transplant. Ask a trusted family member or friend to manage it so you can focus on your health.

Fundraising doesn’t have to be something that you do alone. There are many organizations that can help you plan your fundraising campaign. Here are a few to get you started:

• The Bone Marrow Foundation
• Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA)
• HelpHOPELive

You can find additional tax exempt charities and nonprofits using the IRS tax exempt organization search tool.

You can also find information about fundraising at your transplant center or hospital or by contacting the NMDP^SM Patient Support Center.

Even with strong community support, you may still face financial gaps before or after transplant. Additional resources are available to help ease these costs.

Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid. They are awarded based on eligibility requirements and can provide vital short-term relief when fundraising or insurance doesn’t cover all your expenses. NMDP offers need-based grants that can help cover expenses like housing, meals and transportation. 

A member of your transplant team or an NMDP patient navigator must apply for an NMDP grant on your behalf. Connect with an NMDP patient navigator to help you better understand the grants that may be available to you

Depending on your situation, you may qualify for federal or state assistance programs such as: 

• Medicaid: Provides health coverage for people with limited income. 
• Social security disability insurance (SSDI): For those unable to work due to serious illness. Certain blood cancers and disorders may qualify under the Compassionate Allowances Program. 
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): If you live in the United States and are too sick to work, you may be entitled to job-protected leave under the FMLA.  
• Supplemental security income (SSI): Offers monthly payments to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources.

Determining which programs you qualify for can be complicated, but your transplant team or an NMDP patient navigator can help you understand your options.