To the editor: I am a non-directed kidney donor. Many living organ donors today experience higher premiums or denial of insurance coverage based solely on their status as a donor. but hopefully not for long. Recommended for you A reconstruction project on Broadway gave Alexandria's downtown a new look two summers ago. The city ranks as the top micropolitan area in the state. (Photo courtesy of Widseth Smith Nolting)COMMENTARY: Micropolitans ready for investments Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down - June 3, 2016 EDITORIAL: More reasons to click it In late February, the Living Donor Protection Act was introduced to U.S. Senate and in the House of Representatives. This bill will protect living organ donors by prohibiting insurance companies from denying or limiting life, disability and long term care insurance to living donors, and from charging higher premiums. The bill also clarifies that living organ donors may use time granted through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to recover from donation. When I went through the process of donating a kidney, the possibility of being discriminated against almost caused me to not donate. Thank God my calling to help someone in need was greater. Now there is a young man living a normal life with quality, doing things with his family and friends he was never able to do before. There are over 100,000 people waiting to receive a kidney transplant. In 2015, 17,878 kidney transplants were performed and 5,628 were from living donors. I hope that Sen. Franken, Sen. Klobuchar, and Congressman Kline will join in co-sponsoring this important legislation. Ted R. Garding Eagan, MN