How Do Living Kidney Donors Qualify for Donor Shield?
If you’re considering becoming a living kidney donor, you may have heard about Donor Shield—a program designed to protect and support donors throughout the donation process and beyond. But what exactly is Donor Shield, and how do you qualify for it? This guide explains the program’s eligibility requirements.
What Is Donor Shield?
Donor Shield is a comprehensive support program created by the National Kidney Registry (NKR) to support and protect living kidney donors. It offers a range of protections designed to remove financial and logistical barriers to donation and make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Who Qualifies for Donor Shield?
To qualify for Donor Shield, you must meet BOTH the following criteria:
1. Donate through a participating NKR center
Donor Shield benefits are only available to living kidney donors who donate through a transplant center partnered with the NKR. Currently, over 100 transplant centers in the U.S. participate in the NKR. Find a participating center.
2. Donate through a paired exchange, the Voucher Program, or a direct donation at a Donor Shield Direct center
Your kidney donation must be part of one of the following programs:
- Voucher Program: You donate a kidney in advance, either for a specific recipient (Standard Voucher Program) or a stranger on the waitlist (Family Voucher Program) to generate a voucher that can be redeemed for a living kidney donor transplant. Learn more about the Voucher Program.
- Paired Exchange: You donate to a recipient who is not your intended match, while your intended recipient receives a kidney from another donor in the exchange. Learn more about paired exchange.
- Direct Donation: You donate directly to a specific individual in need of a kidney through one of the 35 NKR Donor Shield Direct centers in the U.S.
To register as a living kidney donor through the NKR and choose an NKR center, visit the NKR website.
What Does Donor Shield Offer?
If you qualify for Donor Shield, you’ll receive comprehensive support and protection before, during, and after the donation process, including:
- Lost Wage Reimbursement: Up to $2,000 per week for up to 12 weeks for work missed due to donation.
- Donor Expense Reimbursement: Up to $6,000 to cover donation-related transportation, lodging, meals, and care for dependents and pets.
- Complication Protection: Coverage for any donation-related medical complications.
- More: For a list of all Donor Shield protections, visit the Donor Shield website.
What is NOT REQUIRED to Qualify for Donor Shield
Other living donor financial assistance programs may require you to apply separately or prove financial need. That is not the case with Donor Shield. Here’s what you won’t have to deal with to receive Donor Shield coverage:
- Donor Shield does not consider the household income of the donor to determine eligibility. All donors who meet the eligibility requirements can be covered by Donor Shield, regardless of income.
- Living kidney donors who donate through the NKR at either an NKR Member Center or through a Donor Shield Direct transplant center are automatically covered by Donor Shield—they do not have to submit a separate application.
- Donor Shield does not determine the eligibility of the donor based on the transplant recipient’s yearly household income. Recipients are not required to submit an application or any financial information.
- Donor Shield does not give preference to lower-income donors. All living donors who qualify for Donor Shield receive the same level of coverage.
- Donor Shield’s funding is not limited. Donor Shield is backed by the NKR and does not use government funding, so there is no concern that the program will not have enough funding to assist all eligible donors.
For more information on Donor Shield, please visit www.donorshield.com