Can I Receive Multiple Vouchers for a Living Kidney Transplant?
If you are in need of a kidney transplant and are considering participating in the National Kidney Registry’s Voucher Program to receive a living kidney donor transplant, you may be wondering if you can only receive one voucher, or if it’s possible to receive multiple vouchers. The short answer is that yes, you can receive multiple vouchers. Here’s how it works.
What is the Voucher Program?
The Voucher Program was created to overcome compatibility issues between donors and recipients, as well as to make the process more convenient for donors and allow the best possible match for recipients.
If you have a living donor willing to donate on your behalf, they can donate through the Standard Voucher Program when it is convenient for them. Their donation generates a voucher for you.
When you are ready for a transplant, you can redeem the voucher and you will be prioritized for a living donor kidney through the NKR. This increases your odds of a better match, which usually means your transplanted kidney will last longer and you may require less immunosuppressive medication.
Can I Receive Multiple Vouchers?
If you have multiple willing donors, each one can contribute a separate voucher, which can be used to find a compatible kidney for you.
Vouchers do not expire, so they can be redeemed even if you need a transplant many years in the future.
Why Should I Pursue Multiple Vouchers?
A kidney from a living donor can last 20–40 years. Some transplants last much longer while others may fail sooner.
Studies show that about one in five kidney recipients (20%) will need a second transplant, and around 2% of kidney patients may need a third, or even a fourth. For those who’ve had their first transplant for 15–20 years, the likelihood of needing another one increases.
This means that if you receive a voucher donation at a relatively young age, you may need one or more additional transplants in your lifetime.
Having a second voucher means that if you need a second transplant, you won’t have to wait to find a donor—you can immediately be activated in the system and the NKR will begin searching for a suitable match.
This is one reason why many kidney patients who have already received a kidney transplant from a living donor choose to keep their patient microsite active to continue searching for additional donors. If you’re thinking about participating in the Voucher Program, or if you have multiple donors interested in helping, talk to your transplant team about your options. They can guide you through the process, explain how the vouchers work in more detail, and help you understand how they can benefit you in your journey toward kidney health.