U Of Penn Latest To Offer Transgender Insurance

Come this fall, the University of Pennsylvania's insurance plan will absorb the cost of gender reassignment surgery.

The Daily Pennsylvanian reports:

The benefit covers the costs of surgery for up to $50,000. According to a research report by the organization Transgender At Work, the cost of male-to-female surgery can average around $20,000.

The initiative was introduced by the previous Lambda Alliance board, chaired by College senior and Daily Pennsylvanian columnist Dennie Zastrow.

"A problem with LGBT advocacy at Penn in the past had been that we overlooked the needs of transgender students," Zastrow said.

With this move, Penn follows in the footsteps of Harvard and Stanford, both of which decided to extend their transgender insurance benefits this year. Stanford will similarly cover transgender surgery, while Harvard will cover "transgender health."

Comments

[kwijibo]

08:52 PM on 04/21/2010

Data points:
Out of pocket cost through Penn's private insurance for GRS in the USA? Zero.

Out of pocket cost through Britain's NHS for GRS? The equivalent of over $15,000.

[Pileo]

02:08 AM on 04/17/2010

Studies have shown that GID has to do with the biological workings of the brain. It's unknown if it's caused by genetics or a defect that happens within the womb while the brain is in development. It has been shown, however, that it is not caused by nurture or other mental disorders as trangendered people come from a varieties of backgrounds, cultures, classes, races, ages ect and many transgendered people have put on all kinds of therapies and medications (whether they were in regards to the GID or not) without any effect at all.

GID is not something that can be controlled or overcome via therapy. Alas, the brain doesn't work that way. Telling someone with GID to get over it is like telling someone without an amygdala to be rational. The only way to "cure" GID without use of a sex change is a brain surgery we're yet to invent. Therefore the only treatment available treatment that has worked consistently has been transitioning from one sex to another.

Treatment of GID, as a previous poster has mentioned, is not taken lightly. Transgendered people are put through a vigorous process in order to reach the Sexual Reassignment Surgery stage which takes at least 2 years according to the standards used by all medical professionals regarding GID. NO QUALIFIED SURGEON WILL OPERATE on a TRANSGENDER PERSON THAT HAS NOT GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

GID without treatment has been shown to lead to depression, anxiety, destructive behavior and suicide.

[mbsq]

08:09 PM on 04/18/2010

Whatever the source of the psychological problem called GID, one has to recognize that there is some social component as well. Gender roles are largely social constructs as can be seen by cross-cultural studies. An anatomically male person would not know what a woman behaves like, dresses like, takes interest in, etc., without reference to the social norm. But this does not mean that GID is a fiction, it just means that if there is some kind of hard biological correlate, it will latch onto social data. But also this situation does not mean that the appropriate treatment is plastic surgery to fully "fit in" to a certain culturally-defined gender identity. As I suggested before, one could approach the disorder purely through psychology. This does not mean making a person "get over it" and stop "acting like the other gender," it means helping them realize that it's OK to violate culturally-defined genders, that they do not need to fit in and that there is nothing "wrong" with their body, their behavior and feelings, or any way those relate to each other. WE DO NOT HAVE TO BUY INTO SOCIAL NORMS BY SURGICALLY MAKING OURSELVES FIT INTO ONE OF THE COOKIE CUTTER MOLDS.

[Pileo]

02:58 AM on 04/23/2010

You missed the point. Scientists and transgendered people tried that road and that road failed constantly and consistantly. You have no idea how many trans people have tried that road. It wouldn't be illogical to say all have tried that road. This is someones life we're talking about. They're not going to withhold the ONLY TRIED AND TRUE treatment just so you can prove a philosophical point that isn't supported by science.

[Kaitlyn Richardson]

01:56 PM on 04/15/2010

When the bucktoothed, small-breasted, insecure, and balding segments of the population start to kill themselves at a rate of 50%, while those that live aren't able to function normally, then we can discuss the medical necessity of their procedures, mmmkay?

[mbsq]

02:34 PM on 04/15/2010

You're right to identify the problem as psychological. People feel that they don't fit into society's gender norms. But the solution is not to spend $75,000 to try to make your body and behavior fit into the norms. The solution is to reject the norms. Gender identity disorder is nothing but a psychological problem of social anxiety. The only treatment necessary is therapy to free oneself from the pull of social pressures, and come to accept that being born with a penis does not mean that you can't dress effeminately and love shoes or whatever. The truly progressive, liberating path is to reject the dogma called Gender Essentialism and break free of the categories completely. You'll save a lot of pain and money in the process as well, and you won't burden our health care system.

[hackerblaster]

07:39 AM on 04/15/2010

I applaud Penn for ending discrimination in their insurance policy for Penn students. I work at Penn and went in front of the University Council a few weeks ago to lobby for the Staff version of this insurance policy. It was well received! I will directly benefit from this new policy since I am a transsexual woman.

The cost of this for staff will be about $1 per person per year.

If you want to see what I told the University Council feel free to see it on my Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=421943963992

[mbsq]

12:20 PM on 04/15/2010

Personally I am outraged by this development because it amounts to a hugely unfair health inequity. While there are people who cannot get coverage for basic, necessary care, these guys are getting FREE sex changes. Let's get this straight: A sex change is cosmetic surgery, and is not necessary for the improvement of physical health. While these guys get free $50k cosmetic surgery to feel good about themselves, I can't get more than $100 coverage to remove an infected ingrown toenail. Outrageous and elitist.

[vegnoah]

09:53 PM on 04/15/2010

I'm sorry your grad student insurance plan is not meeting your needs. I am curious, on what basis did they decline to pay for your care? Did you go through the full appeals process? Insurance companies are jerks in general, but being extremely persistent can often result in a procedure being covered.

Let's be clear that your care not being covered was not because transgender surgeries were covered, as they were not at that time. There is no need to view these issues as zero sum--everyone should have access to all of the health care they need. Transgender students can empathize with you because until recently they were in the same boat. But they and their allies organized and got this covered. If you were to speak out and organize with other students who want increased coverage, that would help everyone be fully covered.

[Fire Wizard]

11:36 PM on 04/14/2010

Sex cannot be changed. All you're doing it cutting off the penis.

[Jtt]

03:50 AM on 04/15/2010

You are 100 %right, besides being completely incorrect, grossly ill informed and a total bi got. Just those little sticking points are holding you back from being an emphatic and brilliant commentator.

[hackerblaster]

07:35 AM on 04/15/2010

Actually, he is not right at all. They do not cut off the penis. An outtie is turned into an innie.

[Fire Wizard]

03:25 PM on 04/15/2010

Sex cannot be changed. That's a scientific fact. I guess knowing science makes one a bi got now? Go take some homeopathic medicine you dolt.

[Nathaniel Mills]

10:36 PM on 04/14/2010

AND separate bathrooms.

[ziger123]

11:40 PM on 04/14/2010

Here's a new word for you - trannyphobe

[Nathaniel Mills]

08:52 AM on 04/15/2010

I worked with two transgendered folks in Berkeley, and that's how they did it. And a new one for you: Quipophobe.

[skeetox]

10:28 PM on 04/14/2010

I'd be quite furious that my premiums are going up, my kids braces arent covered, but Paul can get his privates amputated and turn in to Paulette at the Plan's expense.

[AaronLT]

10:51 PM on 04/14/2010

Nothing gets cut off unless you're a eunuch.

Transsexuals aren't eunuchs.

Also, braces are completely cosmetic, sex changes aren't.

[skeetox]

01:34 AM on 04/15/2010

Sex changes are completely cosmetic. There is no medical reason to cut open the penis and turn it inside out.

[ziger123]

11:30 PM on 04/14/2010

You dare to compare your kids' braces to my childs' sex change?! What the H*ll is wrong with you? My kid is trapped inside the opposite sex body - your kid will have to live with buck teeth - gimme a break and grow up already!

[Douvie]

08:00 AM on 04/15/2010

Right! It's better than living with buck privates.

[shivers]

08:48 AM on 04/15/2010

awww. many kids is a beautiful soul trapped in an ugly body. how dare you belittle their pain! braces and boob jobs and penis pumps should be covered too!

[The Bank]

08:42 PM on 04/14/2010

Coming soon to MSNBC - The Ricky Maddow Show.

[Lisa Hamner]

09:33 PM on 04/14/2010

I think the last thing Dr. Maddow wants to be is a man.

[redsongia]

10:47 AM on 04/15/2010

Joking aside, I think that's why many people's gut reaction is to object to this coverage.

"Why should I pay for this" comments are everywhere.

But people fail to realize that only a very small percentage of the total population are transgendered, and you probably can't think of a "transgendered" Rachel or Ellen or Tim Gunn, or whoever. Even famous cross dressers, like Rue Paul, are not transgendered. He doesn't want to change genders, he wants to be male and dress female.

So before you worry that free surgery is going to send droves of guys to the doctor to have their penis spliced and turned inside out, don't worry. It's not really something people decide on a whim.

[buckfushlv]

10:06 PM on 04/14/2010

gee ! did you hear that down at the school yard or are just stalled at age 12

[Bonaboman]

07:48 PM on 04/14/2010

When a cure for being homosexual is developed, they should fund it too.

[Jsolar]

01:28 AM on 04/15/2010

A cure for that is neither required nor desired.

Let's just cure bigotry instead.

[TeraWatt60]

10:26 AM on 04/15/2010

That cure would work for breeders (heteros) as well....maybe prevent your bigotry from spreading to the next generation

[hpnoodle]

07:43 PM on 04/14/2010

I've always loved or been content with my body, mind, gender and heritage. I can't imagine the anguish of those needing gender assignment (intersex) or re-assignment (transexual) surgery, hopefully this will help. I also hope this is not a political ploy and coverage for other health problems are also as generously covered.

[onlygonnapostthisonetime]

07:22 PM on 04/14/2010

I went to Upenn. Here´s the news folks. This ain´t about LGBT rights. This is a very shrewd economic/educational reputation decision. Having to foot the bill for 0-5 gender re-assignment surgeries is pocket change compared to the tuition they stand to gain from members of the LGBT community who will be inclined to come to a school that they feel accepts them with open arms. They also want to bring in good talent and let me tell you from first hand experience, gay, lesbian etc kids were the rock stars in my Masters program.

[mbsq]

07:30 PM on 04/14/2010

Expect a few admissions essays: "Why I want to come to U Penn. Study X, work with prof Y.... get a free sex change..."

[sempronia]

10:13 PM on 04/14/2010

It sounds like they're no longer under that crappy Aetna plan that JRo instituted. There really can't be that many people out there wanting sex changes, and the benefit of the reputation for acceptance would be a whole lot greater. Hurrah, Pennsylvania!

[mbsq]

07:03 PM on 04/14/2010

OK great. My grad student insurance plan doesn't even cover more than $100 of treatment for my infected ingrown toenail, and now these people get $50k for cosmetic surgery. wtf. This is an example of what's wrong with healthcare in America today, what's wrong with the excesses of affluent people, and what's wrong with the transgender entitlement lobby. They claim it's a psychological problem called gender identity disorder... so why don't they treat it as a psychological problem? Get therapy to overcome social norms of gender and become OK with have "effeminate" interests or behaviors while having a male body. Don't waste society's resources like this. Seriously, if they're gonna cover breast implants for men to make them look like women, then why not cover breast implants for women to make them look "more feminine"??

[AaronLT]

08:26 PM on 04/14/2010

You don't think transsexuals have therapists? It's part of the treatment. You don't just wake up and say, "Let's see, I'll eat some breakfast, take a walk, shower, and, oh--I'll get a sex change today!"

Transsexuals have to go through a long process of living as the other sex for a year or more, going on hormones, having documentation changed for names and gender markers, and then having the sex change, all of which are expensive and long-winded.

Please bear in mind that they're only doing this for the sex change itself, not the cosmetic surgeries, hormones, or therapist, endocrinologist, and doctor visits. A typical therapist visit is around $250, while the hormones can cost anywhere from $50-80 a month or more.

The TG entitlement is the entitlement to -not- be beaten to death by people in your neighborhood. It's the entitlement to be able to work without being told, "I don't want to work with your kind," and being fired for it. It's the entitlement to go to the bathroom and mind our own business. These are entitlements? Get real.

The only reason people are so frazzled about any TG people is because it threatens their own definition of male and female. For that, you might want to find a good therapist.

Part of the reason Gender Identity Disorder is likely to be retitled is because the current title confuses people, especially people who open their mouths or type something up before they research.

[mbsq]

12:08 PM on 04/15/2010

wrong. i'm just upset about the healthcare inequities and unfairness set up by this. necessary work for an infected ingrown toenail is given near zilch coverage while they get $50,000 for surgery which is not necessary.

[robivecchi]

10:12 PM on 04/14/2010

You're assumptions about male to female transition ignore the rigorous counseling one undergoes before hormones and surgery. This is a long and tortuous process not some decision made on a whim. You also overlook female to male surgeries, which probably means you are yourself male and nervous about any man who does not perform according to your standards of masculinity. Perhaps you should also ask yourself why you consider large breasts to be the definition of femininity.

[mbsq]

12:11 PM on 04/15/2010

you're setting up a strawman. it's the healthcare inequities that concern me, not a prejudice. they can do it all they want, but why should i have to pay for it, while at the same time i don't get coverage for basic, necessary care?? i don't care if it's a rigorous process, it's still very unfair in terms of money. an outrage.

Perhaps MtF people should ask themselves why they believe any female-associated looks done with surgery are the definition of female. It's supposed to be "between the ears" n'est pas??

[chuck prebys]

06:42 PM on 04/14/2010

Un-frikking-believable............

OK people..........I've tried to be neutral about the LGBT thing for 20years.

This has me now on the other side.

A sex change........who in the H@ll would want a sex change?

Freaks.........that's who...........Freaks.

[evetodd]

06:57 PM on 04/14/2010

How dare you!!!! My brother underwent transgender surgery years ago after almost committing suicide. The reason he hid who he truly was for a very long time was because he was concerned his family would consider him a freak. However, unlike you, we never would. He is a college educated, hard working tax paying, business owner who is a positive influence on everyone he meets.

Maybe your ignorant rant is because your family would never accept who you are as is let along a transgender individual.

Do me a favor and keep quiet (see I'm polite) about subjects you haven't a clue about.

[mbsq]

07:11 PM on 04/14/2010

Look, if you have shame problems with being male and not behaving "manly enough," then get psychological treatment to overcome your social anxiety. Don't change your body to fool people and fit into social pressures.

[chuck prebys]

07:11 PM on 04/14/2010

Nope...........

I do appreciate your story but I still fail to understand anything about why someone would do that to themselves.
Like most people, I get depressed as well as other members of my family, but our gender is not the root of the problem.

And I do dare........
I'm the daring type.

[AaronLT]

08:11 PM on 04/14/2010

Right, so I'm a freak? That's cool. If there's a choice between being an ignorant fop or a freak, I'd pick freak any day.

I want a sex change because I don't like having breasts or a vagina. I was raised by a good family as a girl, but I am not a girl. I can -not- function as a woman.

No amount of brainwashing can get me to change my mind because it's not a decision. It's an incongruency between my brain and my body, and I'll question the sanity of anyone who says that the brain should obey the body.

If you have a problem with transsexuals getting sex changes, then don't get one. Easy as that.

[sempronia]

10:14 PM on 04/14/2010

We're not all philistines here. I hope it works out for you.

[ziger123]

11:37 PM on 04/14/2010

AaronLT you could be speaking as my son. I hope you have a loving family who can appreciate you and help you through the difficulty that comes with being born male into the female body. Madison, WI loves LGBT

[shivers]

06:17 PM on 04/14/2010

how about my nose job? and my girl's boob job? they are giving us depression right now

[mbsq]

07:16 PM on 04/14/2010

how about hair transplants for balding men?

[robivecchi]

10:13 PM on 04/14/2010

hopeless