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Congress·Reported·10 months ago

Congress Proposes Protections to Stop Insurance Companies from Penalizing Living Organ Donors

Also known as: Living Donor Protection Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • This bill stops insurance companies from treating living organ donors differently. It would be illegal for companies to deny life, disability, or long-term care insurance or charge higher monthly payments just because someone donated an organ like a kidney or part of their liver.
  • It protects workers' jobs while they recover from surgery. The bill clarifies that organ donation counts as a serious health condition under the Family and Medical Leave Act, meaning most employees can take time off to donate without the fear of being fired.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services would be required to update public websites and materials. These updates will explain the risks and benefits of donation and make sure people know about these new legal protections so they aren't afraid to help save a life.
  • Currently, some people hesitate to become donors because they worry it will make their insurance too expensive or that they cannot afford to take time off work. This bill aims to remove those financial and professional barriers to encourage more life-saving donations.
HealthcareLabor Employment

Milestones

3 milestones3 actions
Feb 26, 2026Senate

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

May 1, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

May 1, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

6 months after enactment

HHS must update educational materials on living organ donation

Within 6 months of enactment, public websites like organdonor.gov and other HHS materials would be updated to explain the new insurance protections and FMLA rights, helping potential donors understand they are protected.

Upon enactment

Insurance discrimination protections and FMLA clarification take effect

If passed, insurers would immediately be barred from denying or overcharging living organ donors for life, disability, and long-term care insurance, and workers could use FMLA leave for organ donation recovery.

Related News

2 articles
Federal Newswire·11 days ago

Senate HELP Committee schedules vote on education and health care bills

The Senate HELP Committee has scheduled a markup for February 26, 2026, to consider several bills, including S. 1552, the Living Donor Protection Act of 2025. The bill aims to prohibit insurance discrimination against organ donors and clarify that FMLA covers recovery time for donation surgery.

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The Hill·10 months ago

Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce Living Donor Protection Act to remove barriers to organ donation

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Tom Cotton, along with Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Don Bacon, reintroduced the Living Donor Protection Act. The legislation seeks to end insurance discrimination against living donors and codify job protections under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Living Donor Protection Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 1552
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(42)
D: 25R: 16I: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.