Find the Best Cord Blood Banks in Billings, MT

How to choose a cord blood bank in Billings

Billings residents have a lot to consider when choosing a cord blood bank. First, decide if you want to store your baby’s cord blood for your family’s use in a private bank or if you want to make a donation to a public cord blood bank.

• Private cord blood banks collect and store cord blood, cord tissue and even placental tissue for private use by a family. These companies charge a fee for processing and storage, which you can arrange for up to 20 to 25 years or even a lifetime. Once you enroll, the company sends a collection kit that you bring to the hospital to give to medical staff. After delivery, you contact a courier to pick up the cord blood and cord tissue and transport it to the lab for processing and storage.
• Public cord blood banks collect donations of cord blood and make stem cells available to the public and for research. There is no cost to give to a public cord blood bank, but not all hospitals work with one, so it’s important to contact Billings hospitals first to find one that can help you donate.

Check that a cord blood bank is registered with the Food and Drug Administration, and ask if it has any professional accreditations from organizations such as AABB and FACT. If you are storing cord blood for your family, you should compare costs, experience, transplant success rates and product quality guarantees.

How much does cord blood banking cost in Billings?

The average cost of cord blood banking in Billings with 20 years of private storage is between $3,000 and $5,000. You can also choose annual storage by paying a one-time fee of $1,000 to $2,000 and a yearly fee of $120 to $200. Most companies allow Billings families to make monthly payments, but you can save money by paying in full upfront. You may also be able to save by banking for twins or triplets, taking advantage of special offers or making referrals to the cord blood banking company.

Pros and cons of cord blood banking in Billings

Cord blood banking in Billings has both pros and cons.

Pros:

• Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat over 80 medical conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma and specific disorders of the blood and immune systems.
• Cord blood stem cells can be stored in private banks for 20 to 25 years for future family use.
• Continuing medical research may discover more uses for cord blood stem cells and treatments using stem cells from cord tissue and placental tissue.

Cons:

• Private cord blood banking costs at least several thousand dollars for 20 or more years of storage.
• Most families never use the stored cord blood stem cells.

Billings cord blood banking FAQ

Is cord blood banking covered by insurance?

Health insurance providers may cover the costs of cord blood banking if they consider it medically necessary. Contact your insurer to discuss your coverage and the specifics of your situation.

Is it worth banking cord blood?

Investing in cord blood banking has the potential to save a family member’s life if he or she has a condition that is treatable with a cord blood stem cell transplant. It’s a good idea to educate yourself as much as possible about cord blood banking, discuss the choice with your family and talk with your health care provider before making a decision.

Can cord blood be used for grandparents?

Yes, it may be possible to treat grandparents with cord blood. The FDA states that private cord blood can be used for treatment of first- and second-degree relatives.