Good news for those in Washington State -- insurance

[DriftingCrow]

Letter from Mike Kreidler, WA insurance commissioner:

http://www.insurance.wa.gov/about-oic/news-media/news-releases/2014/documents/gender-identity-discrimination-letter.pdf

Reading the provisions of state law in conjunction with the definitions contained in Washington state's Law Against Discrimination, and the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act, it is clear that exclusions, prohibitions, and other forms of discrimination by issuers against policy holders who identify as transgender is prohibited. [. . .]

This letter serves as a reminder that Washington state law affords policyholders who identify as transgender the full measure of benefits under health insurance policies as individuals seeking medically necessary treatment for non-gender identity related conditions.

[Lady_Oracle]

THIS IS AWESOME!!

[Ducks]

To me, this seems to be a statement reminding insurance carriers that they can not deny coverage to TG people under WA law, not a declaration that SRS, FFS, or VFS must be covered.  I think it applies more to any normal service or benefit that would naturally apply to a CIS person in their birth gender being made available to Trans* in their identified gender. While this is a good reminder, it doesn't seem to remove exclusions for other reasons such as deeming SRS experimental or cosmetic, nor does it address which services are deemed medically necessary for TG individuals. 

Still, the tide is turning, at least they can't deny us coverage for day-to-day medical and Rx needs...  Now if they would just make it part of Medicaid it would really break things open for us!

[Shantel]

To me, this seems to be a statement reminding insurance carriers that they can not deny coverage to TG people under WA law, not a declaration that SRS, FFS, or VFS must be covered.  I think it applies more to any normal service or benefit that would naturally apply to a CIS person in their birth gender being made available to Trans* in their identified gender. While this is a good reminder, it doesn't seem to remove exclusions for other reasons such as deeming SRS experimental or cosmetic, nor does it address which services are deemed medically necessary for TG individuals. 

Still, the tide is turning, at least they can't deny us coverage for day-to-day medical and Rx needs...  Now if they would just make it part of Medicaid it would really break things open for us!

You're right about this, I live in Washington state which is probably the bluest of the blue states and if anything this trend will continue to roll forward until it no doubt includes such coverages, although no-one knows where the funding will come from.