Your Thoughts On Government/State Funded "GRS"

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

As strange as it may sound, there are some trans-people who are opposed to any form of government/state assistance when it comes to transition...

So I just thought it would be an interesting exercise to get some opinions of those who are for and against it...Bearing in mind "Respecting" the opinions of others is the name of the game !

For the most part I think that most of us would sooner pay for it ourselves if we could afford it, but things don't always work out as planned, and many of us are left with no means whatsoever  to come up with the readies $$$$$....(apart from selling things off *including oneself*=Sex work)

Metta Anatta  

[Hikari]

Of course I would support state funding for it (and most everything else).

A more realistic position would be that it has to be covered under all insurance from private plans to Medicaid. So few people are trans this really wouldn't have all that big of an impact cost wise.

[emilyking]

I do see why not.  In the U.K. it's covered, so why couldn't Medicare or Medicaid.
Hell, even if they covered it but I would have to pay back some of the cost over time.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

I've changed the wording of the "No" selection just incase it causes some confusion...

Metta Anatta

[Monique]

I think its depends on the state also, im from RI and it seems like that RI Medicaid pays for a lot of transgender stuff im not sure about medicare, even though medicare is federal not state so im unsure, but I do think it goes by the state that the medical is from.

[V M]

I think it would be great if transition were fully or even partially covered    My only concern would be the quality and level of care provided

[Monique]

I agree, it would be nice if it was fully covered, I'm not sure about state medical though I know Medicaid pays for hrt and other transgender stuff but GSR im not really sure of, for me im not really worried since if my Medicaid doesn't pay for it I can always pick up another insurance that does pay for gsr or save money and pay out of pocket, I hope someday it would be since it would be nice for a lot of other people.

[mrs izzy]

Only trouble i see is you will loose your choice. There will be a hand full of doctors and some who are not so well knowened that you will have to use. The days of going your choice will stop.

I had mine paid for my goverment funding. I had one choice of GRS surgeon. For me it was not a isssue being he was #1 on my list anyway.

So are you ready to be told who will do your surgery? Have to watch what you wish for!

Isabell

[Anatta]

Kia Ora M I Q N,

You bring up an interesting point....

"So are you ready to be told who will do your surgery? Have to watch what you wish for!"

Here in Aotearoa (NZ) there's only one surgical team and they only operate on M2Fs and they operate in Christchurch-F2Ms are sent overseas-(not sure who they deal with) ...The Government funding system here operates along the lines of   "Beggars can't be choosers" and "colovaginoplasty" is the only kind of surgery the local team performs ...

NZ's a small country, population-wise (around four and half million), however in places like the States, UK, Canada and Australia, there's more than one surgeon who specialise in "GRS"...

For the most part, the government or local state will need to be somewhat selective in choosing which surgeon/s they are prepared to work with...

I'm happy with the team that operated on me, but others have not been so happy/lucky....It's the luck of the draw (in more ways than one) and in NZ "Beggars really can't be choosers"....

Metta Anatta

[mrs izzy]

Well if you are in Canada its not that bad. Everyone gets sent to Montreal and i do not think thats so bad.

I hate to see anyone not having any choice.

Isabell

[Jenna Marie]

I agree with those who say it should be covered under insurance - heck, as long as it was listed in the DSM as a mental disorder, the insurance companies were having it both ways anyway, saying we had to be diagnosed but then denying coverage despite laws mandating that mental health coverage be equal to physical. Several states have recently ruled that ins. companies do have to cover all trans care, and I think that's the way to go.

I also don't see anyone losing their choices; I have several friends in the UK who had the option of fully funded GRS under the NHS system and instead opted to go to Thailand. Nothing will stop anyone from being able to buy the surgeon of their choice - and if they can't afford that, well, they would still have had no choices under the current system (it's just that the outcome then is "no surgery for you" rather than limited selection of surgeons).

[Anatta]

Well if you are in Canada its not that bad. Everyone gets sent to Montreal and i do not think thats so bad.

I hate to see anyone not having any choice.

Isabell

Kia Ora M I Q N,

So in Canada there's a selection of surgeons to choose from, but they all have to be in Montreal ?

Metta Anatta

[mrs izzy]

Kia Ora M I Q N,

So in Canada there's a selection of surgeons to choose from, but they all have to be in Montreal ?

Metta Anatta

No everyone goes to Montreal being Dr. Brassard is the only surgeon in Canada that does GRS.

Isabell

[Anatta]

No everyone goes to Montreal being Dr. Brassard is the only surgeon in Canada that does GRS.

Isabell

Kia Ora M I Q N,

Thanks...At first I wasn't quite sure what you had meant...Now I know... 

Just another question (or two) how many government funded surgeries are done a year?

And are F2Ms surgeries also performed in Canada ?

Metta Anatta

[vi]

I believe all things necessary for life should be provided by society as a collective (via the state, if necessary) - food, shelter, clothing, clean air, access to community, healthcare.

A society is the sum of its people. If parts of it are in need and excluded, it hurts society as a whole too.

It's a matter of course that the expenses of GRS, along with all healthcare, should be funded by everyone.