Kidney donors could get free health insurance for life under New York bill

Nancy Cutler

Originally published in lohud

A New York state Senate bill would ensure people who donate a kidney get free health insurance for the rest of their lives.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. James Skoufis, would increase incentives for people to become live kidney donors and raise awareness of the pressing need for kidney donors.

More than 121,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, including more than 8,000 New Yorkers. But last year, just 521 people in New York volunteered as live kidney donors. New York's kidney transplantation waitlist is the third-longest in the nation.