Military Doctors?

[Farm Boy]

I posted something like this a while back, but my situation has changed since then.  My primary doctor wants me to go on an estrogen based birth control as osteoporosis prevention because I have PCOS and thin bones.  I have a family history of osteoporosis, so I understand her concern, but there's no way I'm doing that again.  I took birth control pills before but within a couple weeks I just felt awful and my chest started to grow, so there's no way. 

I'm at the point where my therapist will write me a note if I ask, and she's given me a list of local hormone doctors to look into.  My problem is that I live on a military base, see military doctors, and have military insurance that specifically excludes trans medical procedures.

I don't know if coming out to my primary (military) doctor would be beneficial or make things worse.  Do any of you have any experience with dealing with the military?  If I change my legal gender can I get it covered then?  Or can I even change my legal gender until after hormones?  My doctor keeps encouraging me to "think about it," (read: change my mind) and I can't give her a satisfactory answer as to why I won't.  Of course she can't force me to take it, but she'll keep asking and the bone issue does need addressing...  Any ideas?

[Shang]

All of my appointments are on the local air force base.  I came out to my psychologist who's helping me, though I haven't come out to my psychiatrist yet or any of my other doctors.

Just wondering, but do you have Tricare and are you a dependent?  If you are, they might cover "sex changes" if you can prove it since birth.  At least that's what it said when I looked it up online on my end.

I don't know if changing the name will help or not, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

[Farm Boy]

Yeah, I've got Tricare and I'm a dependant.  I did look over their website and it said they may cover "sex changes" for intersexed people if it could be proven since birth, but not for "purely psychological reasons" so I wasn't sure.  My GID goes back almost to birth though, so maybe there's something there...  Thanks!

[Shang]

Go find a psychologist on base.  I know you can get purely "elective surgeries" by being referred by them because it's "psychologically scarring" or something similar, but I'm not quite certain yet.  I'm going to be talking to my psychologist the 21st about various things.  The psychologists seem to be pretty good, too, or mine is.

[Samantha_Marie]

Remember, it's "elective" until a medical professional prescribes the treatment as a cure. Then the insurance company has to pay for it. The thing is first proving to both your psychologist and your doctor that it is NECESSARY and NOT elective.

Check out the legal section to find out some more info, and if necessary get a lawyer to help you fight for you.

Best of luck!

[Farm Boy]

Go find a psychologist on base.  I know you can get purely "elective surgeries" by being referred by them because it's "psychologically scarring" or something similar

Nice, thank you!  I will look for one!

Remember, it's "elective" until a medical professional prescribes the treatment as a cure. Then the insurance company has to pay for it. The thing is first proving to both your psychologist and your doctor that it is NECESSARY and NOT elective.

Wow, I didn't know that!  Thanks, both of you!  I'll look into a military therapist (psychologist/psychiatrist?  Does it matter?) and see where that gets me.

[Shang]

Try for a psychologist first since sometimes the psychiatrists can only see active duty members unless you're referred to one of them, at least that it's how here.  The psychologist also can't give out meds so they seem more likely to try for therapy and other ways to help you cope with what you have right now, but they can refer to a psychiatrist for meds so it's really not a problem.  I see a psychologist and a psychiatrist (I got referred to the one on base) and I really love the option of having both because they talk to each other to get a more complete picture of me.

If I see my psychologist before you see one, I'll tell you what she says about things. =)  Even if you can't get the surgery, the psychologist is completely worth it because you talk honestly with them and just be yourself and they'll listen and try to help you through everything.

[Farm Boy]

Ok, cool!  I've been seeing a gender therapist off post for about a month and a half now, and she says she'll write me a note.  Do you know if that would count for Tricare, or does the note have to come from another military person?  Psychologists and psychiatrists can both write me notes to take to the doctor, right?

I know I could get in to see a military therapist, I've just been hesitant to open up to anyone on post because of their written policies.  It's why I went off post in the first place.

[Shang]

I got referred to the psychiatrist on base through my psychologist on base.  I don't know if a note from your off-base psychologist would get you to see a psychiatrist on base.  How I went to get my psychologist appointment was I walked straight into the Mental Health Clinic and made an appointment.  It took me three months to build up the courage to ask my psychologist if there was a gender therapist in the area and she smiled and looked for one (there wasn't), but the last time I saw her she actually asked questions (mostly when I started to feel this way, etc.) and she really wants me to tell her about this therapist off base who helps people with gender issues.  I did everything through base, though, so Tricare would cover it for me (I really didn't want to have to pay for an off-base therapist).

Worse comes to worse, you would at least be able to tell the psychologist on base about your gender therapist off base and she'd be able to have the name for anyone else who comes in.

The Mental Health Clinic will not tell anyone anything that you say to them unless what you say poses a harm to you or others, and they only report medications they give you so your other doctors will know. 

[Farm Boy]

Ok, well, that's the next thing I'll look into then!  If you wouldn't mind, feel free to shoot me a message if you see your psychologist and they tell you anything interesting/new.

[Shang]

I will. ^^ =)  I see her on the 21st, so I'll let you know afterwards how it goes.