Stem cell therapy in the United States is very rarely covered by the FDA, which means insurance offering stem cell therapies as part of their package is rare. The only time you can realistically get stem cell treatments covered is during a bone marrow transplant.
The potential of this regenerative medicine, however, goes so far beyond cancer treatment. The potential applications of effective stem cell therapy is vast. There have been great results for those using stem cell treatments for conditions such as arthritis, wound recovery, and even aging.
However, using effective stem cell therapy for these alternative conditions means paying for it out of pocket. That’s why the first question many who are looking into this regenerative medicine as themselves is stem cell therapy expensive?
Is Stem Cell Therapy Expensive?
The stem cell therapy cost at our clinic can start from $18,500. The cost of stem cell treatment, however, can also increase depending on how many treatments you want or need, and also the number of stem cells involved in your treatment.
If you’ve ever had a look at the full run-down of the costs on your hospital bill, before it’s covered by your insurance, you’ll learn quickly that the cost of stem cells is actually on the low side of healthcare in the United States. The only difference is that you’ll need to pay for it out of pocket.
The good news is that clinics offering stem cell therapies like we do at all of the locations we cover offer payment plans. This way you can get effective stem cell therapy and spread out the cost, making it more accessible to those without hefty savings accounts.
Why is the Cost of Stem Cell Therapy So High?
To understand why the cost of stem cell therapy is in the range that it is, you need to understand just what goes into the treatment plan itself, and what are stem cells through and through.
This is because there’s a lot of work that goes into extracting, then purifying, then storing stem cells, long before you ever walk into the door. In order to offer fast and efficient treatments, all of this must be done in advance, too.
Just have a look at the different steps involved (and how they impact the price of stem cell treatments:
Sourcing Stem Cells
The first step of any stem cell treatment is to acquire stem cells in the first place. Now, despite what news you might have heard about embryonic stem cells, these cell types are never used in treatments due to the ethical concerns and the limited stock. They are instead used in clinical trials and scientific research.
That means that all stem cell injections you have access to are actually from adult cells. Now, most adult cells contain a surface protein that new host immune systems tend to attack. If we were to use any old stem cell, there’s a good chance your body destroys those new cells before they can be put to good use.
So, what are stem cell injections, then?
We get our cell types from Wharton’s Jelly. While this source is still considered an adult cell, they are chosen because:
- They can become a wider range of cell types than other stem cells
- They lack the surface protein, meaning they’re more likely to be accepted by your immune system
To get these stem cells, we source donated umbilical cords and then work to extract the stem cells from the Wharton’s Jelly that surrounds them. From there, we work to screen, purify, and then store the cells:
Screening Process
Here at Bioxcellerator we screen each and every cell. This is done in our clinical laboratories. We look for infections, abnormalities, and other issues within the stem cells. If there’s a problem cell, or if the whole set isn’t up to standard, we discard them and move on to the next.
Purifying Process
The next step is to purify the mesenchymal stem cells, to help get them ready for every stem cell treatment they may be used for.
Preservation Process
All cells need constant energy to survive. That’s why the next step is to freeze them at extreme temperatures with cryo-preservation techniques. This prevents the cells from dying, and keeps them suspended so that they are ready for injection when you are ready.
Is Stem Cell Therapy Worth It?
We always conduct in-depth consultations and then pitch your case to our team of experts. Only with the full approval of everyone on board will we take you on as a patient. Our goal is to only offer stem cell therapy to those we believe will experience the most success. This is how we can help our clients get the most value out of the treatment.
As time goes on, of course, stem cell therapy may just become better understood. When that happens, many companies can push for FDA approval. FDA approval will be needed for each condition it can treat, so adoption will be slow. Still, with so much promise it’s only a matter of time before you’ll be able to go to a stem cell therapy clinic and (hopefully) get your treatment covered by your insurance.
Ready to See How Stem Cell Therapy Can Help You?
If you are curious about what stem cell injections can do for you and your health concerns (particularly if they are chronic), contact our team. You can talk to us on the phone, send us a message, or visit one of our clinics for a one-on-one consultation where we can answer any question that you have and even start the consultation.
While stem cell therapy can be expensive for many, those with chronic conditions who have had no luck with any other treatment may just be ready to dive into something that can alleviate their symptoms. With a payment plan, the option of targeted injections over an IV treatment, and our experts at your side, we can help you get the best results possible from stem cell treatments.
