The Cost of Cord Blood Banking

The cost of cord blood banking will vary from company to company.  However, there are usually two fees you'll need to pay:  an enrollment, collection and storage charge and a recurring annual storage fee.   Depending on which company you use and your country of residence,  some will offer a various plans for the setup fee with incremental storage fees for specific time periods.


Typically, the setup fee ranges from $900 to $2100 depending on whether it's for 1 or 2 years.  Renewal storage fees  typically cost around $100.    The average total cost for startup is about $2500 when you select more than 1 year of initial storage.  


Most companies offer different payment plans, including  prepay options as well as monthly payments.  In additional, many offer coupons or promotional discounts throughout the year, making it a wise option to shop around.  Also, another way to lower the cost of cord blood banking is to contact the company directly.  If you question them about their fees, especially in regards to some of their direct competitiors, you are often able to receive discounted services, at least for the initial fee.


Utlimately, these companies are in business to make money.  They would rather give you a discount than lose you as a customer altogether.  


A Word of Warning


Beware of sites offering coupons for discounted cord blood banking services.  Many websites across the Internet will offer discounts or coupons from some of the cord blood banking facilities.  What you many not realize is that these companies pay a referral fee to those who attract new customers.   Some of these websites will have misinformation, whether by accident or design, on the services provided by the company they promote, in hopes that you will purchase through their link.  


In addition, many doctors will promote a certain cord blood banking facility without disclosing that they receive monetary reimbursement for each patient referred.  Both the Amercian College of Obsetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics have issued statements specifiying that doctors should disclose these financial relationships to patients when recommending such companies.  Their statements can be found respectively at http://www.acog.org/from_home/publications/press_releases/nr02-01-08-2.cfm and http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;119/1/165#SEC2 .  Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if  physicians are adhering to these standards.   If your physician supports cord blood banking and recommends a particular company, if they don't tell you of a financial interest, then ask.


Be sure to do your due diligence and research several different companies.  Ask for any literature they have available to make sure you understand exactly what the contract says, especially with regards to termination and storage limitations.  Often, you may find that if you wish to terminate your contract, you are not given the option to transfer your storage elsewhere, but the company has retained the right to dispose of your baby's cord blood in any way they see fit, which can include selling it for medical research to which you may be morally and/or ethically opposed.  The cost of cord blood banking should not be your sole deciding factor in which company to choose.



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