On November 26, the National Kidney Registry (NKR) expanded its Donor Shield program, doubling the maximum allowable time for lost wage reimbursement available to donors from 6 weeks to 12 weeks.
Donors covered by Donor Shield will be eligible for lost wage reimbursement of up to $2,000 per week for up to 12 weeks, for a maximum of $24,000 in lost wage reimbursement. Lost wage reimbursement for more than 3 weeks will still require approval by the transplant center. Being out of work for more than 6 weeks after kidney donation is extremely rare and has historically been covered by Donor Shield’s complications protections.
The increase in lost wage reimbursement brings the total Donor Shield maximum reimbursement to $30,000 per donation: up to $24,000 for lost wage reimbursement and up to $6,000 for travel, lodging and dependent care reimbursement.
“In the face of cost of living increases, it is critical that we eliminate disincentives to living donation,” said Garet Hil, National Kidney Registry Founder and living kidney donor. “Increasing lost wage reimbursement offered through the Donor Shield program ensures that the decision to become a living donor isn’t hindered by financial concerns.”
Donor Shield is a comprehensive program designed to protect living kidney and liver donors, make living donation easier and more convenient, and offer support through every step of the donation journey. In addition to reimbursement for lost wages and donation-related travel and dependent care costs, Donor Shield includes complications protection, kidney prioritization, legal support, remote donation, home blood draws, and more.
About Donor Shield
Donor Shield (www.donorshield.com) is the most comprehensive program in the world supporting and protecting living kidney donors. Donor Shield is backed by the National Kidney Registry, which is the largest paired exchange program in the world. All donors that participate in a National Kidney Registry swap, Kidney for Life direct donation or donate at a Donor Shield Direct Center are automatically enrolled in the Donor Shield program.
About the National Kidney Registry
The National Kidney Registry (www.kidneyregistry.com) is an organization whose mission is to save and improve the lives of people facing kidney failure by increasing the quality, speed, and number of living donor transplants while protecting all living donors.
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