How to pay for FFS/SRS

[Serena]

Hi, I am going to be a freshman college student this fall, I read somewhere that some trans student were using their student loans to pay for surgery, and I was wondering how did that work... I personally think I might receive enough grants that I don't have to get a loan, so it's not like I wouldn't have money for tuition then. Even though, I probably don't want to do that, because I don't really want to have debt or anything...

Just as a question for anyone is how did you pay for your surgery? If you're a college student and you were able to do too, that would be amazing knowledge to share please.

[Laura_7]

Have you inquired if parts of it might be covered ?
As a student you might be insured...

Also a therapist or even gender therapist might be covered...

[Mariah]

The grants are generally geared to be enough to cover what is needed for school and not much more. As far as the loans remember that they eventually need paying back and they are not paying attention how much your going to make in the future when offering them. I have had student loans so I know that you have to be careful because to much student debt will be a problem once the payment increases to start forcing down the lone quicker. Hugs
Mariah

[Dena]

I took the very long way around because I worked as both a male and a female in order to earn the money I needed for surgery. I assume you are already on HRT and if you don't want debt (which I consider admirable) then take a careful look at the degree you are after. It should be something you enjoy and can make good money with. Avoid the popular degree of the moment. For me, that was computer programming. At the time, programming wasn't very popular but there was a huge demand because little software existed and standard languages were just coming into existence. I admit I had to carefully save whenever I could, but my college was paid in full thanks to my parents and my transition cost were all paid by me. If you are on good terms with your parents, living with them helps save a good deal of money, I had to live by myself but in this day and age, a roommate is another option.
My one real issue is because blockers and hormones weren't available to me, the clock kept ticking. Today you have the advantage of spending a little time without the destructive effects of hormones working against you in order to remain debt free.

[StartingOver]

Hi, I am going to be a freshman college student this fall, I read somewhere that some trans student were using their student loans to pay for surgery, and I was wondering how did that work...

Bad idea.

Not only is student loan debt some of the most toxic debt you can possibly acquire (yeah, the old advice about education debt being "good" debt is long past its sell by date; it's a nasty trap to fall into and you should aim to borrow as little as possible), but it's also - at the federal level - not to be spent on anything that's unrelated to your education.

What can I use my federal student loan money for?

You may use the money you receive only to pay for education expenses at the school
that awarded your loan. Education expenses include such school charges as tuition,
room and board, fees, books, supplies, equipment, dependent child care expenses,
transportation, and rental or purchase of a personal computer.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/your-federal-student-loans.pdf

If there's one thing that's more miserable than being stuck with gender dysphoria, it's being stuck with a mountain of non-dischargeable student loan debt that will ruin your finances, never be paid off, and will follow you for the rest of your life and make any kind of future virtually impossible unless you win the lottery.

Be careful.

As Laura_7 very wisely pointed out above, your best bet is to get enrolled in a decent liberal student health insurance plan offered through your school that covers therapy and surgery.  While it'll still cost money, it'll be soooooooooooooooo much cheaper in the long run than borrowing thirty grand from Uncle Sam or uber-bitch Sallie Mae and committing loan fraud in the process.

[iKate]

If you are using student loans to pay for anything but school and living expenses while going to school, that is illegal.

How to pay for FFS and SRS? Graduate first and get a good job.

Or look for insurance to pay but I doubt any would pay for FFS, only SRS.

[Angieisalone]

Loan, save up money, do a twitch, etc..


Mod Edit- advocating illegal activities is against TOS

[Angieisalone]

If you are using student loans to pay for anything but school and living expenses while going to school, that is illegal.

How to pay for FFS and SRS? Graduate first and get a good job.

Or look for insurance to pay but I doubt any would pay for FFS, only SRS.

How is this illegal?
If there is an over payment of the tuition and you get money back, you have every right to spend it how you see fit as long as you pay it back.

[Skeptoid]

It's very important to know that student loan debt in the United States CANNOT be discharged through bankruptcy. Student loans are one of the single most difficult types of debt to get rid of and it's a real shame. Even something like care credit is probably better than student loans and that's something alright!

[Serena]

How do they even find out anyway? I know someone used the money for a vacation.... However, I said that I didnt want to have debt, so that wasn't really the premise of this post, the main question is how did you all pay for these surgeries... And if someone is also a college student and paid for them, that would be valuable info. No, I dont want to wait to graduate. Thanks for everyone's imput!

[iKate]

How do they even find out anyway? I know someone used the money for a vacation.... However, I said that I didnt want to have debt, so that wasn't really the premise of this post, the main question is how did you all pay for these surgeries... And if someone is also a college student and paid for them, that would be valuable info. No, I dont want to wait to graduate. Thanks for everyone's imput!

It seems that with many their parents paid for them or they paid for it themselves after landing a job.

Or they went into debt.

[Skeptoid]

I work in the adult industry. I'm sure a bunch of people frown on that sort of thing here but that's the only way I found that is possible at my education level and with my current situation. I only caution against it because it can make certain kinds of jobs very difficult to get in the future and might impede relationships with certain less open people (most people). I literally only spend money on food, hormones, doctors visits, and electrolysis. The rest is all saved toward facial feminization surgery or covering absolute necessities.

[JenSquid]

Bad idea.

Not only is student loan debt some of the most toxic debt you can possibly acquire (yeah, the old advice about education debt being "good" debt is long past its sell by date; it's a nasty trap to fall into and you should aim to borrow as little as possible)

...

If there's one thing that's more miserable than being stuck with gender dysphoria, it's being stuck with a mountain of non-dischargeable student loan debt that will ruin your finances, never be paid off, and will follow you for the rest of your life and make any kind of future virtually impossible unless you win the lottery.

Be careful.

THIS.
I just graduated, and my exit counseling had me in tears. Given the trouble I've had finding work, I have no idea how I'm going to pay for this, let alone transition. The laws surrounding student loans are absolutely predatory. Be very careful.

[Sigyn]

Should I out myself as a bankruptcy attorney? I think I just did...

Student loans are the single worst way that you can pay for your surgeries.

Personally, as I am pre-HRT (with a letter, waiting for my first endo appt) , I'm saving every penny I have, selling things I don't need/use (including some of my precious collectible firearms) and making it a goal. I am not only preparing myself physically by working out and losing weight, Mentally by seeking counseling, but financially by setting up a plan to pay for SRS/FFS when that time comes. I'm hoping that this is the way to do it.

Please note that even if you do take out 'student loans', and are able to discharge them, there is the fraud exception to bankruptcy discharge that you might have to contend with. The other issue that I have seen come up with debts incurred for (non-gender related) plastic surgery is the fraud exception wherein the creditor can prove that you never intended to pay the loan back when you took it.

Borrowing money is a very serious thing, and I would caution those who do go that route to pay for surgeries to know the true cost of it.

[Serena]

Thanks everyone for your reply, I mean I already didn't want to be in debt, because if I'm not in a good financial situation now, I don't think that will improve anything, but reading your comments definitely made me not want to take any loan ever.
It's so hard to deal with gender dysphoria, I feel like I can't even leave the house now.

@skeptoid, I want actually thinking about that, but I'm not a sexual person so it wouldn't work for me, but I'm happy it's working for you.

[OCAnne]

Hello Everyone, here is the totally irresponsible approach I took for funding my transition.

'You are not transitioning correctly if you aren't going broke in the process.' -Anne Edwardz
I don't mind paying forever, for a lifetime of happiness!

I am very sure those thoughts and actions are shared by many in our community.

Thank you,
Anne

[Sigyn]

Hello Everyone, here is the totally irresponsible approach I took for funding my transition.

'You are not transitioning correctly if you aren't going broke in the process.' -Anne Edwardz
I don't mind paying forever, for a lifetime of happiness!

I am very sure those thoughts and actions are shared by many in our community.

Thank you,
Anne

With that, I figure which is more precious to me, my Soviet-era militaria collection that I have spent nearly 20 years collecting, or my transition? This is why I'm inventorying what I have, selling it, and setting it aside. We have enough stressors in our lives to contend with the stress of debt as well.

[Skeptoid]

@skeptoid, I want actually thinking about that, but I'm not a sexual person so it wouldn't work for me, but I'm happy it's working for you.

I can't say I am in particular compared to others who do the same thing. You may or may not be surprised to hear, but a fair number of cam girls very much don't like what they're doing. I'm not morally opposed to it by any means, but there's other jobs I'd rather have. I'm rather fastidious about certain things so that's a limiting factor. I just couldn't beat the income level without spending another few years in college I can't afford, waiting, waiting, getting a job, THEN finally earning money toward surgery. So I decided to try it out and test the waters and it went well beyond my expectations at the time. I was terrified to even spend the initial money on a webcam but ending up making that back like 100 times over. If you can at all avoid it though, the benefits do come at a cost. Don't expect to ever get a job as a teacher or something if you go into that field.

[iKate]

Life is no fun if you're constantly worried about paying your bills. Gender dysphoria is bad enough, worrying about how you're going to make the next loan payment is kind of almost as bad.


The good news is that insurance is moving toward covering SRS for more and more people. The bad news is that FFS is still (some would argue, rightly) considered cosmetic surgery. You don't seem like you need it? You look better than most of us here.

I would prefer insurance to cover glottoplasty instead or voice training because it's much more effective in achieving passing. In fact I believe the VA covers voice therapy for veterans. Private insurance should move to cover it as well.

[Skeptoid]

The bad news is that FFS is still (some would argue, rightly) considered cosmetic surgery. You don't seem like you need it? You look better than most of us here.

While it is true she looks quite cute, you should know that FFS isn't just for passing to other people. It's also about being happy with yourself. I'm not trying to diminish anyone's need here either, but a lot of people have this idea like "oh, you already have what *I* want or what *I'd* be happy with, so you should just settle for it. Jealousy gets us nowhere good. I think that FFS should be covered in both cases.