Donor Fees: HSA Eligibility

Expenses for a donor that is not a covered spouse or dependent are not eligible.

What are donor fees?

Individuals who decide to donate organs, eggs or vital material to individuals in need are known as "living donors," who offer an invaluable service to those who may be fighting a long-time illness or in the event of an emergency. However, embarking on this path comes with its own share of financial questions in regards to whose insurance covers the surgery and what additional donor fees and unexpected expenses will arise (Donate Life America).

First and foremost, it is illegal under U.S. law to pay an individual for an organ, but the donor and recipient can come to an agreement based on extraneous expenses like travel, lodging, lost wages and other non-medical expenses that could accompany a donation. The actual cost of the donation surgery will be covered by the recipient's insurance as well as most other expenses, but some unexpected charges may arise for donors.

The most common donor fees include agency and testing fees. These fees are most often associated with the living donor evaluation, which refers to the pre-screening that donors must undergo. These evaluations will differ based on the material being donated - for instance, a kidney donor will have blood, radiology and urine tests - but most will determine whether the individual is a suitable donor through a series of tests, including tissue typing, crossmatching, psychological evaluations, x-rays, antibodies screening and much more.

As long as these donor fees directly prepare the donor for the coming transplant procedure, they are eligible for reimbursement under consumer-directed healthcare accounts like FSAs, HSAs and HRAs. Expenses for a donor that is not a covered spouse or dependent are not eligible.