Many people wonder: are my family or real estate charged for organ donation? That’s simply not true, your donation is a gift!
The fact: There is no cost to the donor’s family for organ, eye and tissue donation.
Many people who have never considered organ donation or have delayed signing up to become an organ, eye and tissue donor do so because of inaccurate information or assumptions about organ donation and transplantation.
There is NO cost to the donor or their family for organ, eye and tissue donation 
Donation is a selfless gift. There is no cost to the donor’s family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Recovery organizations assume all costs associated with recovering and processing organs and tissues for transplants once death has been declared and authorization is
confirmed either through the donor registry, or from the family in lieu of registration. Once a transplant occurs, these costs are reimbursed by transplant centers, and the transplant center, in turn, will bill the recipient’s insurance plan.
In Colorado, Donor Alliance, the local recovery organization assumes these costs so they are never passed on to the donor family. Donor Alliance’s culture and values are built on honoring and appreciating the gift of donation, which we have found is a comfort to both donor families and transplant recipients.
Why learning the facts about donation is important
In the US, there are more than 108,000 people awaiting a lifesaving transplant, and nearly 1,500 in Colorado. Many of those waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant may never get a second chance at life because of the lack of transplantable organs. Debunking the myths and knowing the facts about organ, eye and tissue donation ensures you know how the donation process works and can make the decision to sign up as an organ, eye and tissue donor based on accurate information.
What is the donor’s family responsible for?
It’s important to note that hospital expenses incurred before the donation of organs and/or tissues in an attempt to save the donor’s life and funeral expenses remain the responsibility of the donor’s family.
Now you know there is no cost to the donor or their family associated with organ, eye and tissue donation, we encourage you to share this information with your loved ones and friends, and even take an extra step and debunk this myth the next time you hear someone say they are hesitant to sign up as donors.
You can get the facts on other common organ donation and transplantation myths by visiting Why Donate. For answers to other questions about organ donation and transplantation, visit our Donation FAQ page. Get the facts today and sign up to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at the driver license office, or anytime online.