Living Donor Protection Act of 2025
Description
This bill would prohibit insurance discrimination against living organ donors and clarify their eligibility for job-protected medical leave.
Summary
What it does
This bill would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums for life, disability, or long-term care insurance based on an individual's status as a living organ donor. It proposes to classify recovery from organ donation surgery as a serious health condition, ensuring eligible employees can use job-protected medical leave for this purpose. Additionally, the bill would require federal health officials to update educational materials to include information on the benefits and risks of donation and the legal protections regarding insurance access.
Who is affected
This bill affects living organ donors by prohibiting insurance carriers from denying coverage or increasing premiums based on their donor status. It also applies to eligible employees who require job-protected medical leave to recover from organ-donation surgery. Additionally, the bill impacts life, disability, and long-term care insurance carriers, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services.
Key provisions
- Prohibition on insurance discrimination against living organ donors. The bill prevents life, disability, and long-term care insurance providers from denying coverage or charging different premiums based on an individual's status as a living organ donor.
- Expansion of job-protected medical leave. The legislation specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery qualifies as a serious health condition, granting eligible employees access to job-protected medical leave.
- Update of organ donation educational materials. The Department of Health and Human Services is required to revise educational resources to include information on the risks and benefits of donation, as well as the legal protections regarding insurance access.
Fiscal impact
Not applicable: No CBO cost estimate available
Effective dates
Not applicable: Official Summary does not address effective dates
Relationship to existing law
The bill expands the definition of a serious health condition under existing job-protected medical leave laws to include recovery from organ-donation surgery. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to update its existing educational materials regarding living organ donation to reflect new insurance protections and medical leave rights.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to protect living organ donors from insurance discrimination and ensure they have access to job-protected medical leave during recovery. It also seeks to improve public awareness regarding the risks, benefits, and legal protections associated with living organ donation.