Many living organ donors today experience higher premiums or denial of insurance coverage after giving the gift of life just because they donated an organ. But hopefully not for long. In late February, the Living Donor Protection Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate and in the House of Representatives.
This bill will protect living organ donors by prohibiting insurance companies from denying or limiting life, disability and long-term care insurance to living donors, and from charging higher premiums. The bill also clarifies that living organ donors may use time granted through the Family and Medical Leave Act to recover from donation.
As a kidney transplant recipient and Coloradan, this legislation is very important to me. I was 14 years old when my kidneys failed, and I immediately went on dialysis, traveling to and from my home in Evergreen to receive care. Although I was fortunate enough to receive a kidney from a deceased donor only six months later, most spend years waiting – if they receive a transplant at all.
There are over 100,000 people waiting to receive a kidney transplant. In 2015, 17,878 kidney transplants were performed, and 5,628 were from living donors. While I hope that my kidney will last for many years to come, we can make positive changes today to save more lives while protecting donors through the Living Donor Protection Act.
I hope that Rep. Scott Tipton and Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner will join in cosponsoring this important legislation.
Haley Newkirk
Denver
