MyCartilageCare, a support program for MACI patients Skip to content
MyCartilageCare logo

Support Programs Created Specifically for MACI Patients

If your doctor has considered you someone who could benefit from MACI knee cartilage repair, they may have already taken a biopsy of your knee cartilage during an arthroscopic procedure.

So, what’s next? MyCartilageCare can help you navigate the MACI insurance approval process.

Contact a MyCartilageCare Case Manager to begin receiving personal guidance with:

Support icon

Insurance
support

Phone icon

Treatment
education

Biopsy icon

Biopsy
storage

#

MyCartilageCare Case Managers are here for you.

For comprehensive support tailored to your individual insurance requirements and treatment goals call 877-872-4643 9 AM–7 PM EST Monday through Friday

Contact MyCartilageCare

All fields required

Please enter a valid first name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter a subject.
Please enter a message.

Submission of this form constitutes your agreement to the following: information provided is used to provide information and updates regarding Vericel products and services by email, mail, fax, telephone including pre-recorded or autodialed calls, or text (message and data rates may apply).  For additional information regarding how your information may be used, and how to contact Vericel with questions or to exercise your rights, see Vericel’s Privacy Policy. For further information, please see Vericel’s Terms and Conditions of Use. You confirm you are 18 years old or older. You understand you may opt out of receiving information within future communications.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

MACI insurance approval rates and timelines*

Every insurance policy is different and that each patient’s specific cartilage damage and personal history are unique. To better help you understand how insurance with MACI works, here is some general information on MACI insurance approval rates and timelines.

Insurance approval chart

89% of all MACI surgeries were approved by the insurer on the first try

5% Not appealed

5% Approved on appeal

1% Denied after appeal

#

After deciding to move forward with MACI, insurance coordination and approval typically takes 25–30 days

Insurance appeals, as needed, take approximately 20–25 days*

*Data on file, Vericel Corporation. MACI cases activated between January 2021 and December 2021. Nothing contained herein is intended, nor should it be construed, to suggest a guarantee of coverage or reimbursement for any product or service. Check with the individual insurance provider regarding coverage.

MACI is covered by most insurance plans. Should you and your doctor decide to move forward with MACI treatment, a dedicated MyCartilageCare Case Manager is available to coordinate insurance coverage.

Be sure to note if you are in the military or if this is a Workers’ Compensation claim.

Talk with real patients about their experience with MACI

Hear about real personal experiences with knee cartilage damage and MACI. The MACI Mentor Program gives you an opportunity to connect one-on-one with real people who have had the MACI procedure.

It's Your Move

To speak with a MACI Mentor, call 1-888-237-5493 or visit MACImentors.com

Chris, MACI patient

“Thanks to MACI, I am close to being back in the best shape of my life, and each day I’m getting stronger and feeling better.”

—Chris, MACI patient*

*Paid testimonial by a MACI patient. Individual results may vary.

See MACI
success stories 

Jo

Watch Jo go from uncertainty about how to handle her knee cartilage damage, to taking on MACI like any other training challenge.

#
Procedure steps icon

What steps should you be taking prior to your MACI procedure?


Introducing the My MACI App

This customizable tool lets you keep track of where you are at in the process and helps guide you along your rehabilitation. Download today to stay motivated and ready to move through your recovery journey!

MACI App icon

This customizable tool lets you keep track of where you are at in the process and helps guide you along your rehabilitation. Download today to stay motivated and ready to move through your recovery journey!

Apple App Store logo

Google Play logo

It's Your move

Indication and Important Safety Information

Important Safety Information

MACI should not be used if you:

  • are allergic to antibiotics such as gentamicin, or materials that come from cow, pig, or ox;
  • have severe osteoarthritis of the knee, other severe inflammatory conditions, infections or inflammation in the bone joint and other surrounding tissue, or blood clotting conditions;
  • have had knee surgery in the past 6 months, not including surgery for obtaining a cartilage biopsy or a surgical procedure to prepare your knee for a MACI implant;
  • or cannot follow a doctor-prescribed rehabilitation program after your surgery

Consult your doctor if you have cancer in the area of the cartilage biopsy or implant as the safety of MACI is not known in those cases.

Conditions that existed before your surgery, including meniscus tears, joint or ligament instability, or alignment problems should be evaluated and treated before or at the same time as the MACI implant.

MACI is not recommended if you are pregnant.

MACI has not been studied in patients younger than 18 or over 55 years of age.

Common side effects include joint pain, tendonitis, back pain, joint swelling, and joint effusion.

More serious side effects include joint pain, cartilage or meniscus injury, treatment failure, and osteoarthritis.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for more information.

Indication

MACI® is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is made up of your own (autologous) cells that are expanded and placed onto a film that is implanted into the area of the cartilage damage and absorbed back into your own tissue.

MACI is used for the repair of symptomatic cartilage damage of the adult knee.

The amount of MACI applied depends on the size of the cartilage damage. The MACI film is trimmed by your surgeon to match the size and shape of the damage, to ensure the damaged area is completely covered.

Limitations of Use

It is not known whether MACI is effective in joints other than the knee.

It is not known whether MACI is safe or effective in patients over the age of 55 years.