Crowdfunding?

[Constance]

So, every now and then I come across an article or a link to a trans* person's crowdfunding site, where they're trying to raise money for their various surgeries and treatments. My employer has pretty much told me that transgender services will remain excluded from the benefit. I'm 44yo. If I've run the numbers properly, I could have the funds for SRS by the time I'm 52 ... if I could start saving now.

I've also considered a personal loan through my credit union, a medical loan, or picking up a personal health insurance policy that would cover TG services (it looks like Cigna automatically covers anything deemed to be medically indicated by WPATH, according to Cigna's web site).

But I keep thinking about crowdfunding as well. What are some thoughts on this? I've seen indie musicians use it to raise money to produce an album, I've seen authors use it to produce a book, and I've seen parents do it to help with medical costs for childhood illnesses.

I feel like it could be a good way to raise money, but there's something about it that feels strange. Isn't my health more important than an album or a book?

[blueconstancy]

I don't think there's any ethical or etiquette issues with doing it, and you'd be fine if you did. (Although the album/book/Kickstarter method isn't quite analogous, because donators usually get a *product* in exchange for their money. I mean, I admit I saw one woman who promised pictures of the results to anyone who funded her breast augmentation, but that's probably not a good plan. )

I do, however, have doubts about it being very effective... because I've watched several friends try, and I believe the maximum anyone collected was $300. The problem is that mostly people seem to be hitting up two groups who either don't have money to spare (trans friends who are saving for their *own* expenses) or already gave all they could (family). But the worst that could happen is you end up slightly better off than you were before, so why not.

[mrs izzy]

Me personaly i would try to get your employer to offer a HSA type account if you are healthy. It is a great way to sock a lot of money away each year. In 2 years when i had mine i put away $8,000. Draw back if you need to use the insurance for anything it has a huge deductiable.

Not a huge fan of begging for money, but i knew one girl who would every weekend spend the day on the corner begging for money and she funded her GCS with these funds.

I know most hate this new AHA in the states but it has opened the EEOC and HUD so far rulings. It i feel with just a few lawsuites the exclusions will be lifted on the policies in the states for GCS.

Izzy

[Constance]

I'm looking into the HSA thing. Last year there were various restrictions on it, the amount couldn't be rolled over, and transgender services were excluded from the acceptable use of the account.

The whole crowdfunding thing does seem, I don't know, like something I shouldn't do. I probably could qualify for a medical loan, so I guess I should go that route.

[mrs izzy]

Just a FYI the IRS now will allow the deduction of SRS/GRS (before you could get it past but took a little extra work)  and with a HSA you can use the money in the fund anyway you choose fit. Some without tax Penalty and some with (like buying a new car). It can also be used to boost retirement savings.

I a talking about a HSA that you roll money over each year. A FSA you can not roll over each year, it is a spend it or loose it type each year.
Izzy

[Ltl89]

So, every now and then I come across an article or a link to a trans* person's crowdfunding site, where they're trying to raise money for their various surgeries and treatments. My employer has pretty much told me that transgender services will remain excluded from the benefit. I'm 44yo. If I've run the numbers properly, I could have the funds for SRS by the time I'm 52 ... if I could start saving now.

I've also considered a personal loan through my credit union, a medical loan, or picking up a personal health insurance policy that would cover TG services (it looks like Cigna automatically covers anything deemed to be medically indicated by WPATH, according to Cigna's web site).

But I keep thinking about crowdfunding as well. What are some thoughts on this? I've seen indie musicians use it to raise money to produce an album, I've seen authors use it to produce a book, and I've seen parents do it to help with medical costs for childhood illnesses.

I feel like it could be a good way to raise money, but there's something about it that feels strange. Isn't my health more important than an album or a book?

Don't worry about it.  People bitch about anything and everything.  At the end of the day, they have the option of giving or not.  Why complain about something that is totally optional?  Maybe some people wouldn't ask for the help, but that doesn't mean you are a bad person or lack ethics for reaching out to those who may or may not be interested to donate.  Sure, if you were Bill Gates and had the means, I would understand, but no one should hate on you for this.  SRS is terribly expensive, I wish there was a way to do a payment plan or something. 

[Constance]

Just a FYI the IRS now will allow the deduction of SRS/GRS (before you could get it past but took a little extra work)  and with a HSA you can use the money in the fund anyway you choose fit. Some without tax Penalty and some with (like buying a new car). It can also be used to boost retirement savings.

I a talking about a HSA that you roll money over each year. A FSA you can not roll over each year, it is a spend it or loose it type each year.
Izzy

Hmm, they called it an HSA, it sounds like it was actually an FSA.

Don't worry about it.  People bitch about anything and everything.  At the end of the day, they have the option of giving or not.  Why complain about something that is totally optional?  Maybe some people wouldn't ask for the help, but that doesn't mean you are a bad person or lack ethics for reaching out to those who may or may not be interested to donate.  Sure, if you were Bill Gates and had the means, I would understand, but no one should hate on you for this.  SRS is terribly expensive, I wish there was a way to do a payment plan or something. 

Thanks, LTL.

[transfeminist]

Just had a friend raise $2600 (with only a $2000 goal) on IndieGoGo for Electrolysis and other non-insurance covered transition related medical expenses.  I think the key is getting word of your campaign out beyond just friends you know (I know my friends don't have any money!).  For something like this I think IndieGoGo is better than Kickstarter because even if you don't quite reach your stated goal, you are most of the way there and still get your money!  I certainly don't think there are any ethical or moral reasons not to, wish I'd thought of it!!!

[Lauren5]

Ugh, I was just reading about it, and I found one insurance company that offered hormones, therapy, SRS, and even breast enhancement, if hormones failed to create significant breasts or the patient was unhappy with them. Forget what the name was though. Let me delve through my history for a minute...

As for the topic, I'm not big into crownfunding, even if it is for a good cause. One group for volunteering in Africa wanted us to crowdfund, but the amounts that they wanted us to pay were ridiculous ($4000 for 10 days.) I think my go it alone plan and try to get sponsorships from a clothing company (to give shoes and clothes to children) and Emirates (for the flights. They love whatever positive publicity they can get their hands on) was more efficient.
Crowdfunding for SRS or such, yeah, I don't really understand how that would go.

SRS is terribly expensive, I wish there was a way to do a payment plan or something.

In this case, it's called taking out a loan for it.

[JenniL]

HSA is kind of based off the deductible that is offered by company. My previous employer's deductible was 1300 and that qualified me for HSA. My new employer insurance is super low and the deductible is 250 and I'm no longer eligible for HSA only FSA.

Cool thing, HSA is yours forever. Can always put money in it and earn interest even if you are not on a qualifying plan it's just after tax of course. The trick is getting on a qualifying plan .

FSA is use it or loose it each year. You pick an amount and you can only use it during the year. So anything left so adios to it

Both can use pretax on qualifying insurance plans.

[LizMarie]

Another option, radical but still an option, is move to one of the states that mandates TG medical coverage and get a job there. Then you'll have it no matter who is providing the insurance.

[Constance]

Another option, radical but still an option, is move to one of the states that mandates TG medical coverage and get a job there. Then you'll have it no matter who is providing the insurance.

Hmm, it could be a little more complicated than that. For instance, this past May a law was signed by Gov. Brown saying that trans people can't be denied health insurance coverage for trans related treatments. So, I gleefully contacted the Trangender Law Center to see what I could do since my employer was telling me to pound rock salt up my nose with a broken bottle.

It turns out that law applies to individual policies, but not the so-called "self-insured" policies provided by employers. So here in CA, in spite of this law, employers can very legally exclude transgender services from the benefits they offer their employees.

I've actually called the TLC out on their Facebook page twice about this as they keep touting this "victory."

So, for those in states with laws such as the one here in CA, examine the text of those laws very carefully.

[nessa76]

If you decide to go for crowdfunding Constance, nobody should judge you for it and especially on here. We all know the desperate measures we can go to for funding our transitions    Its a better option than to be a sex worker, so you won't/shouldn't be judged for your decision for going for crowdfunding 

good luck anyway,

nessa76

[Chaos]

Yeah let me take out a loan with my crappy credit and no job XD opps cant do that lol hmm guess im stuck with winning the lottery (about 3% chance there) or begging (much higher chance) or i somehow wake up in the right body (um yeah lol) I have heard of people also using paypal in order to allow for donations.This would be hard for me personally because of a few personal issues but i wont rule it out either just yet,things may change.Could always look into it and make sure to pass the link around and see what happens.I dont know how well they are or work though.Good luck

[Chaos]

If you decide to go for crowdfunding Constance, nobody should judge you for it and especially on here. We all know the desperate measures we can go to for funding our transitions    Its a better option than to be a sex worker, so you won't/shouldn't be judged for your decision for going for crowdfunding 

good luck anyway,

nessa76

Indeed.I heard of one woman who kept robbing wal-marts to fund her SRS,so it does prove that people do get desperate.Regardless,its better then committing a crime i feel.

[Constance]

Yeah, I'm not at the desperation phase yet but I don't want to be non-op either. Of course, considering my age, I have to also accept that there could be various other medical factors that could make me non-op for other reasons than just money.

[Aeshe]

I actually have a friend who raised more than $8,000 on Indigogo.  It can work pretty effectively if you get the word out enough.  Social media, e-mails, asking people in person and not just online...

I, myself, have used GoFundMe for non trans-related things.  We were experiencing real financial difficulties, and brought in around $1,500 to help us pay off some medical bills and rent.

Try, try, try... Action gets you much further than inaction. 

[MadelineB]

The majority of employers do not have self-insured plans. Unfortunately most large employers, including my own, do. So if you don't want to change employers, and can't persuade your employer to do the right thing, there are a few other options that may be viable for you:
1) If you have a 401k account, find out if your employer's 401k plan allows loans. Mine does, and I can borrow up to half of the the vested value from myself at 2% annual interest rate. For SRS, if all ducks are in a row it can even be documented that it was for a medically necessary expense and so exempt from IRS policies if I change employers before I have paid the loan back over 5 years. If not, the penalty is 10%, which is less than the interest rate for a medical loan that I would qualify for.
2) If you are intellectually oriented, many universities now have student health plans (required for part time or greater students) which cover SRS. Go back to school part time and get your surgery covered that way. The degree will help your career and the surgery will help your happiness.

[Ltl89]

In this case, it's called taking out a loan for it.

I was a victim of identity theft.  A man stole my social when I as 18 and opened bank accounts in numerous states that I have never even been in.  I can't tell you how difficult it is to clear up this stuff and it took me forever just to get a bank account because of this man.  Call the social security department and you will see what I mean.  They don't offer any assistance.  And the only reason I was cleared for my first checking account was because the guy used a different name than mine even though he had my social and the management took pity on me because it was clear that I was a victim.  Apparently, banks don't check for mismatches and allow shady people to abuse innocent kids, so he was able to screw me big time.  Therefore, I don't know if I will ever be in a position where I can take out a loan.  Maybe in the future. For some reason, my credit was never effected because it was in a different name, but I imagine it will still be a hassle for me.  So, that's why taking a loan out without a cosigner isn't very likely.  We all have different circumstances and it would be helpful if we all tried to understand that what works for one person may not work for the other.  At this point, I have been screwed over enough by banks without even having anything to do with it.  I'm not looking forward to putting myself at the mercy of them again.  Thus, a payment plan would make more sense to someone like me.  If a loan works for others, that's great.   

[Jaelithe]

So I'm curious here.  Is there a recommended crowdfunding site to use?  Strategies to get yourself noticed by donors?