1) What are the overall costs?

Required, Fixed Costs:

Prescription Medication: $750                                                

After death arrangements: Cremation services average $1,325, plus optional $250 for shipment of the cremation remains. If you opt to have the body transported, the costs depend on distance and weight.  If you want copies of the Death Certificate sent to you from the funeral home, that cost is usually $95.

Variable Costs:

Medical Appointments: These appointments are often covered by your insurance. If insurance does not cover the consults, the cost for three required appointments is: $1,309 total.

Travel & Accommodations: Your travel distance, mode of transportation, number of people in your party and the configuration of your doctors’ appointments will determine these costs.

The Comfort Project Services: Please see information about the costs of our services on our website page. 

2) Where does someone take the medication?

The Comfort Project has access to a number of dependable locations that can be used on the day the medicine is taken. These are listed on our Client Portal, which we make available to you when we are working together.

In late summer of 2026, The Comfort Project is opening a home dedicated to our clients who are taking the medication. It is designed to be highly suitable for your needs, with room for your friends, family and caregivers to stay as well.

3) Does the medication ever not work?

The compounded formula has been carefully tested and refined over twenty years. It is the standard formula used by all states where Medical Aid in Dying is legal. The medication is effective when taken as directed. Your Wayfinders and medical team will review in advance how to prepare and what to expect, so you feel confident and supported.

4) Why do I need to be enrolled in hospice both at home and in Vermont? 

Most doctors require patients to be enrolled in hospice in their home state. This ensures comfort, safety, and compassionate care before you go through the steps to come to Vermont. When you arrive in Vermont, your hospice care will be transferred to our local hospice. This coordination ensures continuity of medical and emotional support across locations.

5) What if I lose the ability to take the medication myself?

Vermont law requires that you be physically capable of self-administering the medication. If you lose that ability, you would no longer qualify for Medical Aid in Dying. We can help you explore timing and options in advance to honor your wishes within the legal guidelines.

6) Can we pre-schedule the date and time you wish to take the medication?

Leading up to the day the medicine is taken, many logistics require finalizing and coordination and we request two weeks advance notice. In that time:

• Our local hospice (Bayada) needs advance notice to plan staffing

• The compounding pharmacist must prepare the medication

• The Comfort Project must ensure two of our staff (“Wayfinders”) are available for the process

7) What if I don't want to take the medication right away after my final doctor appointment?

If there is a significant gap between your final doctor appointment and the date you wish to take the medication, your doctor may want to see you one more time for a brief follow-up visit to ensure you still meet all criteria for Medical Aid in Dying. This is something you will discuss with your prescribing doctor. If you receive “green lights” at all doctor visits, the decision if and when to take the medicine ultimately rests with you. There is never any pressure to follow through with taking it.

8) Can I take the medicine back home with me? 

Federal law prohibits transporting the medication for Medical Aid in Dying across state lines. The medication must remain in Vermont and can only be used in Vermont, in accordance with Vermont's Medical Aid in Dying law. All steps of the process must take place in Vermont.

9) What funeral arrangements are available?

Information on our Client Portal (which we make available to you when we are working together) covers different funeral arrangements, including transporting a body back to your home location, cremation in Vermont, and green burial.

10) Will my death certificate reflect that I used Medical Aid in Dying?

No. The death certificate lists the underlying terminal illness as the cause of death, without mention of the medication that was taken. This is consistent with Vermont's Act 39 and helps preserve privacy for you and your family.

11) How will I get the death certificate and from whom?

The Death Certificate is filed with the state of Vermont and Social Security is notified as part of the cremation fee. It takes 2-4 business days.  There is more information on the Client Portal, which we make available to you when we are working together.

12) What support is available to my survivors?

You can access bereavement support services by contacting your local hospice organization. The Comfort Project also provides resources on our Client Portal about online grief support groups for people living with loss related to Medical Aid in Dying. Again, the Client Portal is available to you when we are working together.