HB19-1253 Living Organ Donor Insurance Act Passed & Exceeds Expectations!

Today marks a huge victory in the transplant community through the passage of the Colorado Living Organ Donor Insurance Act! This lifesaving legislation was passed on the last day of the legislation session and we couldn't be more thrilled. Next step: Governor Polis' desk!

What it's all about: Colorado Living Donor Insurance Act will prohibit health, life, disability, and long-term care insurers from discriminating against living organ donors by charging them higher premiums or denying them insurance.

Right now, Colorado and New York are the only two states in the country that include health insurance in their bills. This provides extra protection for living donors in case the Affordable Care Act goes away and gives living donors peace of mind in the present.

The battle: This bill was introduced in March of 2019. Originally, it included life insurance, disability, and long-term care insurance providers.

American Transplant Foundation thought it was necessary to include health insurance companies to the list of entities that cannot discriminate against living organ donors in Colorado.

First, the Senate voted to include health insurance. However, it was rejected by the House. We rallied our volunteers, and thanks to consistent grassroots outreach campaign, the joint House and Senate Conference Committee decided to add health insurance back. Finally, during the last two days of the legislative session, both the Senate and the House approved this critical addition.

A message from American Transplant Foundation's Executive Director, Anastasia Henry: "We applaud the Colorado legislators who made this bill the best it can be. We have worked tirelessly to ensure living organ donors are protected in a way they deserve to be. This bill complements the Living Organ Donor Support Act that we championed in 2018, and gets us a step closer to our vision of making Colorado the first state in the country where nobody dies while waiting for a transplant. Our hope is that as a result of this bill, more lives will be saved in Colorado and more states will follow this example."

A Special 'Thank You' to the Colorado Legislators Who Fought for Living Donor Rights!

Bill Sponsors:

Represenative Janet Buckner - HD 40 Aurora

Representative Lois Landgraf - HD 21

(includes the City of Fountain, and unincorporated Fort Carson, Rock Creek Park and Security-Widefield)

Senator Julie Gonzales - SD 34 Denver

Senator Dennis Hisey - SD 2 Clear Creek, El Paso, Fremont, Park, Teller

Conference Committe Members:

Representative Brianna Titone - HD 27 Jefferson County

Senator Rhonda Fields - SD 29 Arapahoe County

*And all Bill Sponsors*

Our Gratitude for YOU!

Without ATF's efforts and our hardworking advocates this legislation would have likely passed without including health insurance.

We would like to thank all of the volunteers, supporters, and advocates who contacted Representatives and Senators.

To our financial donors - your support makes this work possible and we are grateful that you care about living donors, transplant recipients, and 1,839 Coloradans who are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.