Transplant Candidacy: Who Qualifies and What Really Matters

When your body can’t keep up anymore—whether it’s your heart, liver, kidneys, or lungs—transplant candidacy, the medical assessment that determines if you’re eligible for an organ transplant. Also known as transplant eligibility, it’s not just about how sick you are—it’s about whether you can survive the surgery, recover, and stay healthy long-term. Many assume that if you need a new organ, you automatically qualify. But that’s not how it works. Transplant centers don’t just match organs to the sickest patients. They match them to patients who have the best shot at living for years after the transplant.

So what makes someone a good candidate? It starts with transplant evaluation, a detailed process that checks your overall health, mental readiness, and ability to follow complex treatment plans. Doctors look at your heart and lung function, whether you have active infections or cancer, and how well you manage chronic conditions like diabetes. They also assess your support system—do you have someone to help you take meds, get to appointments, and recognize warning signs? Missing a single dose after a transplant can mean losing the new organ. And then there’s lifestyle factors, including smoking, alcohol use, and weight. If you’re still smoking, you won’t be listed. If you’re severely obese and haven’t tried to lose weight, you’ll be asked to start before moving forward.

It’s not just about physical health. Mental health matters too. Depression, anxiety, or untreated substance use can disqualify you—not because you’re weak, but because these conditions make it harder to stick with the strict post-transplant routine. Transplant centers don’t judge. They just need to know you can handle the responsibility. And if you’re not there yet? Many programs offer support to help you get there—nutrition counseling, addiction treatment, therapy. This isn’t a pass/fail test. It’s a roadmap.

You might be surprised what doesn’t matter as much. Age alone? Not a barrier. Many people over 70 get transplants. Income? Not directly. Insurance coverage? Yes, but centers help you navigate that. Your diagnosis? It’s important, but so is how you respond to treatment. Someone with advanced kidney disease who’s still active and compliant may be a better candidate than someone younger but non-adherent.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just stories—they’re real, practical insights into what happens before, during, and after the transplant process. You’ll see how people manage medications, deal with side effects, and rebuild their lives. Some share how they improved their candidacy by changing their habits. Others explain how they navigated insurance hurdles or found support when they felt alone. This isn’t theoretical. It’s what people actually go through. And if you’re asking whether you qualify, the answers are here—not in a cold medical form, but in the voices of those who’ve been there.