Experiences Obtaining Insurance After Live Kidney Donation

The impact of kidney donation on the ability to change or initiate health or life insurance following donation is unknown. To quantify this risk, we surveyed 1046 individuals who donated a kidney at our center between 1970 and 2011. Participants were asked whether they changed or initiated health or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of transplantation 2014-09, Vol.14 (9), p.2168-2172
Main Authors: Boyarsky, B. J., Massie, A. B., Alejo, J. L., Van Arendonk, K. J., Wildonger, S., Garonzik‐Wang, J. M., Montgomery, R. A., Deshpande, N. A., Muzaale, A. D., Segev, D. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
COBRA 1985-US
Donations
Fees and Charges
Female
Health insurance
Health services and outcomes research
Humans
insurance
Insurance, Health - economics
Kidney
kidney transplantation/nephrology
kidney transplantation: living donor
law/legislation
Life insurance
Living Donors
Male
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Summary:The impact of kidney donation on the ability to change or initiate health or life insurance following donation is unknown. To quantify this risk, we surveyed 1046 individuals who donated a kidney at our center between 1970 and 2011. Participants were asked whether they changed or initiated health or life insurance after donation, and if they had any difficulty doing so. Among 395 donors who changed or initiated health insurance after donation, 27 (7%) reported difficulty; among those who reported difficulty, 15 were denied altogether, 12 were charged a higher premium and 8 were told they had a preexisting condition because they were kidney donors. Among 186 donors who changed or initiated life insurance after donation, 46 (25%) reported difficulty; among those who reported difficulty, 23 were denied altogether, 27 were charged a higher premium and 17 were told they had a preexisting condition because they were kidney donors. In this single‐center study, a high proportion of kidney donors reported difficulty changing or initiating insurance, particularly life insurance. These practices by insurers create unnecessary burden and stress for those choosing to donate and could negatively impact the likelihood of live kidney donation among those considering donation. In this single‐center retrospective study, the authors find that among donors who attempted to obtain insurance after donation, 7% reported difficulties obtaining health insurance and 25% reported difficulties obtaining life insurance.
ISSN:1600-6135
1600-6143
DOI:10.1111/ajt.12819