Transfusion cost

Hi,
 
A friend's  family in India have a child of 15 months, who is Thal major. They are considering bringing him here for treatment. Does any one know whether it is possible to get transfusion without insurance coverage in US, with minimal coverage of a tourist visa health insurance? Also what would be the transfusion cost around?

They are also considering different options, like PGD and asked me about the Reproductive Genetic Institute at Chicago. Does anybody know about this place?

I am also directing them to this site.

Please let me know.
Thank you

Try contacting Eileen at CAF. She should have some knowledge of the insurance issues.

Cooley's Anemia Foundation
330 Seventh Avenue, #900
New York, NY 10001
(800)522-7222
Fax: 212-279-5999

Patient Services Manager
Eileen Scott
eileen.s@cooleysanemia.org

Reproductive Genetic Institute at Chicago seems to be an advanced center with excellent reviews. You can check out their Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/RGI-Reproductive-Genetics-Institute/239635580448

They are even involved in new, less invasive methods for predicting genetic defects.

Andy, you had spoken about looking at the parents' DNA and predicting if the child may be intermedia or beta major or beta zero. is that correct?
if so, what is the exact test for this?

A DNA analysis will give the exact mutations of both parents. This can be used to help predict the phenotype of a child that receives both defective genes, to some extent. However, because other factors can affect the phenotype, it is not completely accurate, but when both parents are beta zero, a child will definitely be a major if both beta zero genes are inherited.