Washington Requires Insurance Companies to cover Transition-Related Procedures

[katiej]

I'm moving to Seattle next week.  And so I was thrilled to run across this little bit of good news! 


Washington State Ends Discrimination in Trans Health Care
Excerpt:

Washington State insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler yesterday issued a clarification that all health insurance policies, both public and private, must cover transition-related care, and cannot discriminate against transgender residents of Washington.

Citing both Washington's 2006 nondiscrimination law and the Affordable Care Act, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner determined that blanket exclusions of transition-related care are illegal.

"Transgender people are entitled to the same access to health care as everyone else," said Kreidler in a Wednesday statement. "Whether specific services are considered medically necessary should be up to the provider to decide on behalf of their patient."

http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2014/06/26/wash-state-ends-discrimination-trans-health-care

[karina13]

Oh, wow! That's exciting! Seattle's been on my short list for a while. I fell in love with it when I visited a couple years ago. At the time, I was still presenting as a guy (well, except for one of the events I went to in which I was more andro), but I felt welcoming vibes pretty much the entire time I was there. You spread the peace, love, & happiness, and you'll get it back in return! That's great about the insurance, though. I'd heard about Vermont & Massachusetts recently, but it looks like we got another one to add to list!

I'm planning a move back to California soon, but if I need an alternate place to go, I'll definitely look at Seattle or Olympia.

[Jess42]

It sounds like Washington state is the place to be. Legalization and now "transification". I know its expensive, does anyone want or need a roomate? Other than the rain it is a beautiful city though.

[JulieBlair]

Welcome to the Emerald City!  The hitch is "Medically Necessary"  we'll see how that plays out next year.  But the winds of change and justice are blowing.  Drop me a note when you get to town, I would love to get together and share a cuppa and smile.

Fair Winds,
Julie

[Jess42]

Welcome to the Emerald City!  The hitch is "Medically Necessary"  we'll see how that plays out next year.  But the winds of change and justice are blowing.  Drop me a note when you get to town, I would love to get together and share a cuppa and smile.

Fair Winds,
Julie

You live in Seattle?  I am sooooooooo jealous. Rain, my god the stuff of rainy days are what legendary emotions are all about. Jesus, driving a truck over the road that was one of the best cities that I ever went to. Actually the West coast in general. that is the one place that I really felt free to be me. I didn't get near shy and guarded as anywhere else on the I 5 corridor. I don't know but I always felt I could be me uninhibited, than anywhere else in the US.

Believe me, If I ever get there I will let you know and you can get in touch with me. Coffee's good but Irish coffee's better.

[JulieBlair]

You live in the Emerald Isle?  Then you know something about the damp too.  I try to get somewhere new every couple of years.  Now I have a destination.

Cheers,
Julie

[Shantel]

Welcome to the Emerald City!  The hitch is "Medically Necessary"  we'll see how that plays out next year.  But the winds of change and justice are blowing.  Drop me a note when you get to town, I would love to get together and share a cuppa and smile.

Fair Winds,
Julie

We still have to do that too Julie, been dragging my feet on account of family busyness. With all this information about the insurance commissioner's decision we're likely to have a trans-stampede to the Emerald City, there goes my property taxes again! 

[JulieBlair]

We'll get it together my friend.  I'm busy too.  As to taxes, for purposes of justice, I am glad to pay.

Julie

[Jess42]

You live in the Emerald Isle?  Then you know something about the damp too.  I try to get somewhere new every couple of years.  Now I have a destination.

Cheers,
Julie

No I live in the swamp unfortunately. but if you eve get o New Orleans give me a call and we can have coffee. You'll probably be wired after though. I love Cappuccino and the drip stuff they make down here, OMG. And not no little cups either.

[JulieBlair]

Craziest few months of my life were spent in a shipyard in Morgan City.  The Big Easy is my kind of town.  I had tickets for the Jazz festival this year, but had to cancel and go to Alaska instead   Maybe next year
Julie

[katiej]

Welcome to the Emerald City!  The hitch is "Medically Necessary"  we'll see how that plays out next year.  But the winds of change and justice are blowing.  Drop me a note when you get to town, I would love to get together and share a cuppa and smile.

Let's definitely make it happen.  Shan and I have been talking about going to Ingersoll and hanging out.  You up for that?  Or we could just get together elsewhere...start our own "Susans in Seattle" club.  Hey, I like the sound of that. 

[JulieBlair]

Okay   Seattle Susan's has a nice ring to it.  Emerald City Girls is a trans and cross dressing party group I if you're into the club scene.  Nice people, but I'm past staying out all night and then going to work.  Stamina just isn't there anymore.  Ingersoll is a pretty cool resource in this town, and if you want get active, an affiliated organization is the Gender Justice League. 

Seattle is amazingly LGBTQ friendly and accepting.  I think you'll like it here.

See you soon.
Julie

[Patty_M]

It sounds like Washington state is the place to be. Legalization and now "transification". I know its expensive, does anyone want or need a roommate? Other than the rain it is a beautiful city though.

The rain and the traffic. When I was working up there as a Field Tech for Nextel a good third of the day was spent in stop-and-go traffic.

I DO have to admit to jealousy toward those who are transitioning nowadays.  Washington is not the first state to require transition related expenses be covered by insurance.  Oregon and California are two others.

Transition will never be easy for anyone but with the support from outside the gender community, the anti-discrimination protections in law and a greater degree of acceptance from the cis-world - its a heck of a lot easier today than it was in the 80s!

[- Rachel -]

I live in Seattle, too. I've been to the support group at Ingersoll, it's a very nice group.
My prescription for Estrogen patches was denied by my insurance. When I complained to the insurance commissioner, the insurance company's response was that they don't have to follow the laws because the state is self-insured, even though my insurance is through UMP, Uniform Medical Plan, for state employees.

So basically what they said is the state doesn't have to obey state laws.

BTW, I'd love to meet more Seattle trans-women.

[Shantel]

I live in Seattle, too. I've been to the support group at Ingersoll, it's a very nice group.
My prescription for Estrogen patches was denied by my insurance. When I complained to the insurance commissioner, the insurance company's response was that they don't have to follow the laws because the state is self-insured, even though my insurance is through UMP, Uniform Medical Plan, for state employees.

So basically what they said is the state doesn't have to obey state laws.

BTW, I'd love to meet more Seattle trans-women.

Eventually myself, KatieJ and Christopher will be seeing you there. I used to attend several years ago but quit until now, see you there eventually Rachel.

[Wynternight]

I need to move to WA state! I love Alaska but there's nothing like this on the horizon.

[Shantel]

I need to move to WA state! I love Alaska but there's nothing like this on the horizon.

Alaska, now I get Wynternight, it all makes sense. Did you and StevieAK ever connect?

[katiej]

Eventually myself, KatieJ and Christopher will be seeing you there. I used to attend several years ago but quit until now, see you there eventually Rachel.

It's like we're starting our own non-virtual Seattle chapter of Susans! 

I'm finally in Seattle full-time now, so I think I'll be ready to get started at Ingersoll in the next few weeks.

[Wynternight]

Alaska, now I get Wynternight, it all makes sense. Did you and StevieAK ever connect?

We haven't met yet but we text and have talked on the phone a few times.

[Shantel]

We haven't met yet but we text and have talked on the phone a few times.

Good, she seems like a nice gal!