Donor Shield Direct for Liver

Liver donors protected by Donor Shield are eligible for reimbursement of lost wages due to their donation: up to $2,000 per week for up to six weeks. Lost wage reimbursement beyond two weeks requires additional clearance from the transplant center and should be considered primary when supplemental benefit plans such as short term disability are available to the donor. We encourage liver donors to preserve their supplemental benefit plans such as short term disability so that they do not exhaust these benefits in case they are needed in the future for other reasons.

Lost wage reimbursement is only available to donors with a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or Employee Identification Number (EIN), which serves as proof of legal employment in the U.S. and is required for tax purposes. Documentation to support income and current employment is required for lost wage reimbursement. All reimbursements are made via ACH* within approximately 10 business days after submission of proper documentation. ACH payment will come from the law firm of Smith Carroad Levy Wan & Parikh, which has been retained by the NKR to manage the Donor Shield reimbursement process.

* Also known as “direct payments,” ACH payments are a way to transfer money from one bank account to another without using paper checks, credit card networks, wire transfers, or cash.

Liver donors protected by Donor Shield are eligible for reimbursement of expenses for travel and lodging (for the donor and an accompanying caregiver), as well as dependent care (for children or adult dependents of the donor) when the donor is away from home during the donation process and when they are home recovering after the donation surgery. The maximum total reimbursement for travel, lodging and dependent care combined is $5,000.

Receipts are required for travel and lodging reimbursement. Receipts are required for dependent care provided by a care facility. If care is provided through an individual and a receipt for services cannot be produced, the donor will be asked to sign an affidavit as part of the reimbursement process.

All post-donation reimbursements are made via ACH* within approximately 10 business days after submission of receipts. ACH payment will come from the law firm of Smith Carroad Wan & Parikh, which has been retained by the NKR to manage the Donor Shield reimbursement process.

* Also known as “direct payments,” ACH payments are a way to transfer money from one bank account to another without using paper checks, credit card networks, wire transfers, or cash.

Liver donors protected by Donor Shield are provided free legal support for unlawful employment termination, health insurance discrimination, life insurance discrimination, or other issues directly related to their liver donation. Living donor life insurance discrimination is unfair, and in some states, it is illegal. If you attempt to purchase life insurance and are denied coverage or are quoted an inflated price due to your status as a living liver donor, please click here to contact us.

The National Kidney Registry donor intake systems provide the option for every donor candidate to speak with a living donor who can answer questions, offer insights, and provide education based on their own donation experience.

Most donor mentors are certified Independent Living Donor Advocates and are knowledgeable about all protections and support provided to living donors in the United States.

* Donors must register through an NKR website to receive this living donor assistance.