HHS proposal bans health care discrimination against transgender persons

[iKate]

HHS proposal bans health care discrimination against transgender persons
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/3/hhs-proposal-bans-health-care-discrimination-again/

By Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times - Thursday, September 3, 2015

The administration said Thursday it wants to ban discrimination against transgender people who use the health care system.

Part of sweeping regulations released by the Department of Health and Human Services, the rules build on a long-standing bar against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

HHS's proposal would not force insurers to cover specific services, such as sex-change surgery, but it does prohibit them from reeling in services just because the person is transgender.

"Sex-specific health care cannot be denied or limited just because the person seeking such services identifies as belonging to another gender," HHS said in a summary of its rules. "For example, a provider may not deny an individual treatment for ovarian cancer, based on the individual's identification as a transgender man, where the treatment is medically indicated."

[...]

[iKate]

Today has been an absolutely wonderful news day.

[sam1234]

The health care system still needs go change. For instance, the law in N.Y. is that once you have been on HRT and had a mastectomy, (F to M), you can legally say you are a male and change your gender on any of your documents.

At this point, considering you are a legal male, the other surgeries should not be considered transgender surgeries. Surgeons work on  cis men's privates when needed and its covered by insurance. I don't understand why surgeries can still be considered transgender relatied when you are already a male. The same thing applies to M to F except I'm not sure what they have to have done before they are legally considered women,

sam1234

[Tysilio]

Having just changed my name and gender marker (without surgery), I've been concerned about this. As I said to one of the workers who was updating my info,"It would suck to need a hysterectomy and not have it covered because there's an 'M' on my health record."

So to me, this represents significant progress.

[iKate]

The health care system still needs go change. For instance, the law in N.Y. is that once you have been on HRT and had a mastectomy, (F to M), you can legally say you are a male and change your gender on any of your documents.

At this point, considering you are a legal male, the other surgeries should not be considered transgender surgeries. Surgeons work on  cis men's privates when needed and its covered by insurance. I don't understand why surgeries can still be considered transgender relatied when you are already a male. The same thing applies to M to F except I'm not sure what they have to have done before they are legally considered women,

sam1234

Not sure why it would matter if insurance is still paying for it.

I don't think I would want insurance companies deciding to use criteria for cisgender women anyway for surgeries and other treatment I need. For example, my estrogen dose is higher than what a cis woman would take. My spiro dose is too apparently. CIs women don't really have penises either that have to be turned into vaginas. They do get vaginoplasties but their surgery is a bit different.

And unless you've had a hysto and an oopherectomy you still have those parts to take of that would need medical care and attention.

One size does not fit all.

[iKate]

Having just changed my name and gender marker (without surgery), I've been concerned about this. As I said to one of the workers who was updating my info,"It would suck to need a hysterectomy and not have it covered because there's an 'M' on my health record."

So to me, this represents significant progress.

My health plan denies coverage for my estrogen because I'm listed as a male. Luckily Wal-mart and its cheap generics saved the day. Hopefully this should at least pave the way to fixing this.