Liver Donor Shield

Donor Shield Reimbursement Policy

Choosing to become a living donor is an incredibly generous act, and we believe that decision shouldn’t come with financial burdens. Since donation surgery and recovery often require time away from work, Donor Shield is here to help with financial support.

Donors covered by Donor Shield are eligible for lost wage reimbursement up to a maximum of $2,000 per week for up to 12 weeks.

No income or financial details are required from the recipient. Your eligibility doesn’t depend on your recipient’s income.

Donor Shield offers this support for kidney and liver donations. If you are a double living donor, you may claim the full benefit amount for each donation.

Please see the Donor Shield Reimbursement Policy for more information.

Donor Shield Reimbursement Policy

Donor Shield offers living donor financial assistance to cover donation-related expenses.

Donors covered by Donor Shield are eligible for reimbursement of donation-related costs up to a maximum of $8,000. No financial or income information is required from the recipient.

Donor Shield offers this support for kidney and liver donations. If you are a double living donor, you may claim the full benefit amount for each donation.

Please see the Donor Shield Reimbursement Policy for more information.

Donor Shield Reimbursement Policy

Donor Shield provides financial assistance for pet care expenses during your donation surgery and recovery period.

Donors covered by Donor Shield are eligible for reimbursement of pet care costs as part the dependent care portion of donor expense reimbursement, including pet-sitting or kennel expenses.

Liver Donor Shield offers the opportunity to speak with a donor mentor. Donor mentors are living kidney donors who volunteer to speak with donor candidates. They can explain the process, offer insights, and provide education based on their own liver donation experience.

Donor mentors can answer questions about a wide range of topics related to living liver donation, including how to talk to your family about your decision to donate, the testing and donation process, recovery, and life after donation.

Connecting with a mentor is free and completely optional.

Complications related to donor surgery are rare. If a donor experiences complications, they must notify the donor center in writing. Medical expenses related to donor complications are primarily covered by the donor center. If the donor center does not provide coverage, the associated costs will be billed to the recipient’s insurance. If a reimbursement claim is necessary for donor-related complications, the donor must notify their donor center. If workers’ compensation and disability benefits are denied, Donor Shield will cover the donor’s lost wages (up to $2,000 per week, with three weeks for the initial claim and subsequent weeks submitted individually, one week at a time ) and expenses.

Additional documentation is required for lost wage reimbursement beyond 12 weeks, including, but not limited to, pay stubs, letters from both the donor surgeon and the primary care physician indicating that the donor is unable to work, proof of denial of governmental disability benefits, and a copy of the UNOS incident report filed in relation to the case. Donors must provide notification of the uncovered complication through their hospital within 30 days of complication.

Donors protected by Donor Shield are offered free legal support for unlawful employment termination, health insurance discrimination, life insurance discrimination, or other issues directly related to liver donation. Support may include legal counsel, guidance, or helping find a local attorney.