This is incredible technology. But I am crying in American at "Each transplant costs around £30,000, he says."

chrisrodrigue 8 months ago | parent | next [-]

That seems extraordinarily affordable for a permanent, life-altering operation that needs 30 medics and takes 17 hours.

For a comparison, check out what a 1-month supply of a biologic drug costs: https://www.goodrx.com/stelara

	▲	morcus 8 months ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The think that was the point, it's unimaginable that something like that could only cost 30k in the US.
	▲	scythe 8 months ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I'll raise you for the cost of a single dose of Pluvicto: https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/pluvicto
	▲	pyuser583 8 months ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Is this permanent? I thought transplanted uteruses were usually removed after birth.
	▲	clort 8 months ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It will not be permanent, she can have two babies but they will remove the womb afterwards

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adrianmonk 8 months ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's part of a clinical trial, and the staff donated their time, so I don't think that number tells you anything meaningful about what it would normally cost.

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morkalork 8 months ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Only a low multiple of IVF treatment, remarkable!

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throwuxiytayq 8 months ago | parent | prev [-]

Completely dwarfed by the total cost of raising a child. It’s a surprisingly expensive hobby.

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tough 8 months ago | parent [-]

Yea but in america such a transplant probably costs 300k just to go to the hospital ez

prob also raising a child way expensier if you factor uni and such into it vs UK

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trollbridge 8 months ago | parent [-]

I don't think anyone in America is actually paying a bill for $300,000 for a transplant. It's either paid for by insurance, or if someone doesn't have insurance, via hospital charity or a state medical aid plan. The only exception would be an absurdly rich person who doesn't have insurance.

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nonethewiser 8 months ago | parent | next [-]

Why would insurance cover a womb transplant?

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breppp 8 months ago | parent | next [-]

Presumably if the need is due to illness

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Retr0id 8 months ago | parent | prev [-]

Insurance often covers IVF

	▲	WalterGR 8 months ago \| parent [-]
		Only in some states, under some circumstances, and not necessarily completely.

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Rebelgecko 8 months ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Would insurance cover a transplant that isn't necessary for survival?

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pyuser583 8 months ago | parent [-]

They cover cornea transplants, which are necessary for sight.

But they tend not to cover fertility stuff.

	▲	trollbridge 8 months ago \| parent [-]
		Don’t worry, our current President promises to be the “fertilisation President” and is pushing to cover IVF and other fertility treatments mandatory on isursnfr.

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wat10000 8 months ago | parent | prev | next [-]

“American health care is incredibly expensive.”

“That’s ok, other people bear the enormous cost.”

Not really a win, that.

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thehappypm 8 months ago | parent [-]

That’s not how it works! The bill of $300k gets negotiated down to like $20k.

	▲	wat10000 8 months ago \| parent [-]
		The negotiated rate is still super high. There are procedures where it costs less to fly overseas and get it done self-pay than the out-of-pocket cost with insurance in the US.

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lawn 8 months ago | parent | prev [-]

Don't forget the people who don't have insurance and are too poor to pay for the treatment, those suckers.

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trollbridge 8 months ago | parent [-]

If someone is low income and doesn’t have insurance, they should apply for state Medicaid or other assistance programs. These programs exist and are very helpful.

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AngryData 8 months ago | parent [-]

While yes they should, that is still going to be minimal coverage that doesn't cover tons of stuff, especially something like voluntary uterus transplant.

	▲	trollbridge 8 months ago \| parent [-]
		It varies by state, but in some Medicaid is some of the best coverage you can get. (I have a personal mission to dispel the myth that poor Americans can't access health care, because often they can - and spreading the idea they can't leads to adverse health outcomes.) Specifically, patients aren't ever charged for anything. Uterus transplants are still experimental. The only ones I could find in the U.S. are in clinical trials and are being paid for by the institution to people accepted into the program, such as the one at John Hopkins. There are not gynecologists (yet) charging $200,000 for uterus transplants in America.