Elements Of Cord Blood Banking Cost
There are several elements that will more than justify the cord blood banking cost if it is something you are considering. There are actually two fees associated with this valuable process. Initially there is a fee for enrollment, collection and storage for the year you first begin. This will be the largest fee of the two. The second charge will be an annual fee you will pay to keep the cord blood stored for later use. Various facilities charge different amounts and have different preset periods for storage services.
Banking your baby’s umbilical cord blood, as well as the placenta blood is a wise move that could pay off in terms of future health issues or medical procedures. This blood is a rich source of stem cells that are unique to you and your family. As the immune system’s building blocks, stem cells are dominant and as valuable as bone marrow with less rejection. Auto immune diseases, leukemia and sickle cell anemia are just a few of the conditions that are treatable with cord blood and make the cord blood banking cost a very worthwhile investment.
Storing your baby’s cord blood and stem cells in a cord blood bank provides you with an invaluable insurance for your future. Presumably, you will never need to utilize your baby’s stem cells to address a medical problem, but keeping your cord blood can give you peace of mind that this valuable resource is there if you need it. The stem cells from your baby’s cord blood may be able to treat not only certain diseases and conditions of your child but also of a parent or sibling. This alone outweighs any cord blood banking cost
Cord Blood Banking Cost Comparisons
Your child’s cord blood will be processed and then stored in a blood bank laboratory facility. You will want to use a facility that is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) for handling stem cells. The initial fee will generally range from $900 to $2100 dependent upon the period of storage you have decided upon. After that, annual fees for storage will run about $100. Many storage facilities offer prepaid plans that fit into most budgets for your convenience thus making cord blood banking cost affordable for most families today.
Should you decide against storing your cord blood or change your mind later, consider donating this valuable resource to help another family in need. There are several cord blood banks that are accredited and may be found by doing some online research or contacting the American Pregnancy Association. When considering the cord blood banking cost of processing and storage do keep in mind that this blood is irreplaceable should you ever need to use it in that it originated with your own family and is therefore unique.
Weighed against the cost of bone marrow or obtaining such a resource in a medical emergency it is clearly priceless. Some payment plans start as low as $61 a month and even offer a gift registry so your friends and family can make a contribution to your registered account as a shower or birth gift. Surely, the gift of life is defined by such a thoughtful gesture.
Some private cord banks have plans starting at $775 with annual storage as low as $85, but in general that is quite low for the industry. Plans of just over $2,000 for collection, processing and 20 years of storage are also available but be sure you are using an accredited facility that you can depend on. If the day should ever come that you need your baby’s cord blood, you want it to be there for you. Your peace of mind and the safety of your precious family will more than justify any cord blood banking cost.