Compensation and reimbursements post-surgery
Israel’s National Transplant Center reimburses living donors for various expenses in order to compensate for lost work days and protect the donor’s physical and mental health.
The sums are not large, in order not to violate the laws prohibiting organ trafficking, and are meant for reimbursement of expenses and not as payment. The amounts below are accurate as of 2024 for donors who donated in Israel.
Kidney donors are entitled to receive:
- Compensation for lost work days – for a period of 40 days (about one month’s salary), similar to compensation for reserve duty. The minimum reimbursement is 9,335 NIS for the unemployed or those with low salaries, and the maximum is 68,642 NIS.
- Travel reimbursement – one-time payment of 3,017, no receipts required.
- Supplemental/private health insurance – reimbursement of 66 NIS/month for 60 months, policy and proof of payment required.
- Disability insurance – reimbursement of 229 NIS/month for 60 months, policy and proof of payment required.
- Life insurance – reimbursement of 145 NIS/month for 60 months, policy and proof of payment required.
- Psychological treatments – reimbursement for 5 therapy sessions at 483 NIS each, receipt required. Treatments must be within 48 months of donation.
- Recuperative vacation – reimbursement for hotel stay of 7 consecutive nights at 603 NIS/night. Receipt required, vacation must be within 90 days of donation.
- National Health Tax – exemption from paying national health tax for three years starting from January after the donation.
Kidney donors receive a certificate of appreciation and a free lifetime subscription to all nature preserves and national parks.
Matnat Chaim has prepared a comprehensive document that explains the procedure for applying for and receiving reimbursements.
For additional information you can contact Judy Singer at judy@kilya.org.il
Kidney Donors from Abroad
Live kidney donations from non-Israelis are recognized as special organ donations.
A special organ donation requires the evaluation and approval of a central committee established for that purpose. The committee is mandated to deliberate upon and approve applications from non-related potential organ donors as well as special donors. Donors who are approved by the committee are entitled to the same benefits as all other Israeli donors.
It is important to note that in order to receive these benefits the donor must be the holder of an account in an Israeli bank. The donor must open such an account in person while he is in the country.
When opening the account, foreign residents need to present their passport and a 2nd ID with a photo from their home country e.g. driving license. The cheapest place to open an account is the Postal bank (not in a branch office but in a main office) but an account can be opened in any regular bank e.g. Bank Hapoalim. In both these banks the rules are the same, ie, requirement for passport and 2nd ID.
See the Kol Zchut website for more information for non-Israeli donors.
For further information regarding donor entitlements, contact Ronnie Gertel of Matnat Chaim at ronniegrtl@gmail.com or at 058-7282166. Kivunim, the information center for medical entitlements, may also be contacted at kivunim@hadassah.org.il or 02-6779711 or 02-5844025.
A copy of the Organ Transplantation Law (2008) can be viewed on-line.