Should I try to move up my SRS date?

[MeganC26]

Ok this might turn into a long post but I really need an outsiders perspective.

This is the situation currently. I am scheduled to have surgery with Dr Bowers on July 26th 2016. Back in May I started a new job with a company that covers SRS. About a month after I'm scheduled to have surgery I'm going to be going back to school for physical therapy. So objectively the schedule is perfect I can work until surgery and save as much as I can to try to carry me through school. Also by that time I will qualify for short term disability so I'll still have some money coming in while I recover. On paper it is perfect.

However that is over 8 months away and I know In the grand scheme of things that isn't that long. But with stress from worrying something will happen and I'll loose my job and my insurance before my surgery, and general stress from my job(which is rather stressful to begin with and to add to that it isn't in a field I'm passionate about), and my exponentially worsening genital dysphoria I don't think I can make it until July without having a breakdown.

So now my conundrum. I got my insurance coverage on Oct 11 and hit my 1 year full time on the 30th of Oct. So the last thing I need is my letters. And it is really really tempting to get on the list to try to get an earlier date so I can just get this behind me. But the problem is it would cost me more in the long run especially without the short term disability.

I know there are no Guarantees I would get an earlier date but my dysphoria is getting so much worse I'm starting to feel like I have to try.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[janetcgtv]

If you can go ahead with the date change, do it..
Why do you want to go to school as you will be working for a tg friendly company unless they don't know.
At least work for them for at least a year after your surgery. otherwise it may give them a bad outlook towards you.
what kind of job do you have now?
Is it a mans type job?
you can go to school while working for them if you still want to change jobs.

My motto is money coming in is better than no money at all.

Have a lovely day,

Janet

[Dena]

A bit of information. Often if you lose your job you can continue the insurance on a private bases. It's not the cheapest policy but it's far cheaper than paying or the surgery out of pocket. If you keep the job, you don't have an issue.

[melissa_h]

Something Stephen Breyer said on Colbert:  "My father's advice to me was: whatever you do, stay on the payroll" 

That said, if you're in a position to move sooner, and you feel your comfortable with the procedure, eliminating the wait will help eliminate the worry that goes with the wait.

The question is, how will that impact you after?

And yeah, COBRA is usually available if you lose your job, but it's almost never subsidized by the employer, meaning the monthly cost can be prohibitive.  The ACA is available, and seems to have good coverage, just not sure where some of those policies stand on trans related coverages. Will vary considerably by state and provider.

[Miss Clara]

You didn't say whether or not you've completed the necessary genital hair removal that Dr. Bowers recommends.  That could take as long as 8 months to accomplish, making the July date ideal for you.

[Jenna Marie]

Actually, something else stands out to me - a month off before going back to school is probably workable, but it isn't ideal. You want more like 5-6 weeks of recovery if you can manage it. So you  might be better off moving up the date and arranging for a long "vacation."

(I went back to a desk job precisely at 4 weeks, and while I managed, I regretted not taking at least one more week.)

[MeganC26]

Janet, to explain a bit. While I love me job and it is truly great being in such an accepting environment(I've met more LGBT folks at this job than any point in my life, including one of my new best friends who is also trans) it's not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I started school in the middle of my transition and the stress of everything proved a bit much so I took a break off from school and I'm restarting my program next August after I have the surgery behind me. And as far as people at work knowing most don't. I've told a few people that I trust but when I started this job I had already been full time and had my name/gender corrected, so as far as I know no one suspects.

So about 3 months ago I got promoted to a manager position and when I looked closer ar the benefits today it looks like I actually am covered for short term disability now. So I think I'm going to call the doctor and see if I can't get an earlier date.

[Mariah]

Megan, I'm glad to hear it covers those things. I know for me I would jump at the chance at moving mine up. Good luck and Hugs
Mariah