Patients Rejected for Being Too Poor

When it comes to the unexpected reasons that organ transplants are denied, one can't help but mention patients for being too poor. Imagine learning that your heart is failing and that you will need a transplant to live. You already know that there are 100,000 people on the waiting list for organs, with only a fraction of that number available. But, assuming you're in otherwise good health and meet all of the qualifications, you've got to be near the top of the list. Imagine learning that the average cost of a heart transplant is more than $1.3 million.

It may seem strange to suggest that you can be denied a life-saving procedure because you cannot afford it, but you can. Hedda Martin was denied a heart transplant because her finances were insufficient to cover the cost. The hospital advised her to start a fundraiser to raise at least $10,000.

Before any progress on a potential transplant is made, patients are routinely required to demonstrate their ability to pay in advance. A heart is the most expensive organ, but even a kidney can cost up to $400,000. Furthermore, there are anti-rejection drugs that cost $2500 per month and must be taken for the duration of your post-surgery life. Many recipients start GoFundMe campaigns, but if the money doesn’t flow, neither do the organs.