Living Donor Information

How are medical costs covered?

All medical costs for the donor, including initial testing, hospitalization, and surgery, are covered by the recipient's insurance or Medicare. This coverage applies whether or not the donation actually proceeds. It's illegal to buy or sell an organ in the United States, but recipients or fundraising efforts may help cover additional costs for donors, such as travel, lodging, and lost wages during recovery.

For more detailed information about how medical costs are covered for kidney transplants at the University of California, San Francisco, you can visit their website here: UCSF Kidney Transplant Program.

Who Can Donate

To qualify as a living donor, individuals must be in good health, generally between 18-60 years old, and free from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and heart disease, although donors over 65 can also be considered. Routine tests assess a potential donor’s health and compatibility with the recipient. Living donation proceeds only with informed, voluntary consent, meaning donors should fully understand the risks and benefits and decide to donate without external pressure.

Benefits of Living Donation

Living donation bypasses the national waiting list, potentially saving two lives by immediately benefiting the recipient and allowing another patient to move up the list.
Transplants from living donors have higher survival rates and begin functioning immediately, unlike those from deceased donors, which can take longer.
A living donor transplant offers recipients a normal, dialysis-free life, significantly enhancing their quality of life and increasing life expectancy compared to remaining on dialysis.
Surgeries from living donations can be conveniently scheduled, reducing the stress and health risks associated with waiting for a deceased donor.
The process includes a comprehensive, cost-free medical evaluation for donors and significant psychological benefits for both donors and recipients, fostering feelings of gratitude and satisfaction.