Most people are familiar with organ and tissue donation after death. This is the type of organ donation you opt into through your driver’s license or by making your wishes officially known by some other legal documentation. But there is another way to be an organ or tissue donor that’s referred to as a living organ donation. Living donation occurs when a person who is still alive donates an organ, or part of an organ, for transplant to another person in need. Some live organ donations you may be familiar with include kidney and liver, and usually the donor is a family member or close friend of the recipient. While this clearly benefits the person receiving the organ donation, it can also benefit the donor when it comes to life and critical illness (CI) insurance.

Live organ donors and life insurance rates

While there are many factors that go into determining your insurability, organ donors are often accepted at standard rates for life and CI. This is because people who are accepted as live organ donors tend to be considered good risks for life insurance for the following reasons:

1. As a live organ donor, you will undergo extensive medical evaluations and screenings before you are approved for donation. This means you are generally in excellent health and free from chronic diseases or conditions that could affect your insurability.
2. The rigorous health requirements for organ donation often mean that donors lead healthier lifestyles. On average, you would be less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking or excessive drinking, which can negatively impact insurance risk assessments.
3. After donation, as a live organ donor, you would typically have regular medical check-ups to monitor your health. This ongoing medical attention can help detect and address any potential health issues early, reducing the likelihood of severe health problems that could lead to insurance claims.
4. Many live organ donors experience psychological benefits from the act of donation, such as increased self-esteem and a sense of purpose. These positive psychological effects can contribute to overall well-being and lower stress levels, which are beneficial for long-term health.¹

Deciding whether to be a live organ donor or not is a very personal and very serious decision. It should never be made based on the assumption that doing so will help you get approved for life insurance, or that your rates for life insurance will be lower, but if you do become a live organ donor, it may help you as well as help the recipient of your incredibly generous gift.