Will My Family Ever Be Charged for Organ Donation?

Many people wonder if their family or estate are ever charged for organ donation. The truth is that donation comes at no cost to loved ones, and all expenses associated with the recovery are fully covered. Families and estates never take on any costs when a loved one becomes a donor.

Your local, federally designated organ procurement organization assumes all costs associated with recovering and processing organs and tissues for transplants once death has been declared and authorization is confirmed through either the donor registry, or from the family in lieu of registration. These costs are never passed on to the donor family.

Who Pays the Costs Associated With Organ Donation?

After the transplant occurs, the OPO or hospital gets reimbursed by the transplant centers, which then bill insurance private and public insurance plans. This is all handled between medical organizations and insurance. The donor family is never involved financially in this process. Hospital expenses incurred before the donation of organs or tissue in attempt to save the donor’s life and funeral expenses remain the responsibility of the donor’s family.

Get the facts on other common organ donation and transplantation myths by visiting Donation Fact vs. Fiction. For answers to other questions about organ donation and transplantation, visit our Donation FAQ page. To register to become an organ, eye and tissue donor you can say “yes” at the driver license office, that little heart has a BIG impact, or anytime at Donate Life Colorado or Donate Life Wyoming.