Top Surgery Assistance

[Michael Joseph]

wtf how can you end up owing money for not having insurance.

Cuz theres a penalty in Mass for not having health insurance and for each month you dont have it you owe money. I havent done my taxes yet, so I dont know what the damage is.

[wheat thins are delicious]

does that have something to do with obama's healthcare plan? 

[Michael Joseph]

yes.

[Michael Joseph]

Actually I take that back, I thought it did, but I guess it may have passed before that, ill do some research and get back to you on that

[okydoky]

Thanks guys for all the words of encouragement. I'll just have to keep at it for the next few years, and hopefully I'll eventually have enough

As for the insurance stuff - I really didn't know it's like that. That sounds more f-ed up than what we have here. Here, all the "normal" doctor stuff is just covered by public health care that you have if you're retired, a student, registered at the unemployment office or employed. So basically every citizen can have it and for most it's free or covered by work - and even if not, I think it's like $100 or so per YEAR. Unfortunately there are NO laws related to trans issues so it's not like you can even ASK for it to be covered or anything. But otherwise - yeah, I guess this health care system beats the US by a lot. But hey, weren't there recent changes in US' health care? In that there was a new public health care system or something? What's up with that?

[tekla]

does that have something to do with obama's healthcare plan?


Kinda hard for that to be true as it hasn't gone into effect yet.  And it's not Obama's plan, it's the Repub plan from the early 90s, he didn't write this, Congress did, blame them.

[Michael Joseph]

does that have something to do with obama's healthcare plan?


Kinda hard for that to be true as it hasn't gone into effect yet.  And it's not Obama's plan, it's the Repub plan from the early 90s, he didn't write this, Congress did, blame them.

No it doesnt, it actually passed in 2008, I pm'd him after I did my research, its just a massachusetts thing.

[tekla]

The key provisions of the national health care bill do not go into effect till next year.  They gave the industry a couple of years to gear up for it.

[Luc]

As for the insurance stuff - I really didn't know it's like that. That sounds more f-ed up than what we have here. Here, all the "normal" doctor stuff is just covered by public health care that you have if you're retired, a student, registered at the unemployment office or employed. So basically every citizen can have it and for most it's free or covered by work - and even if not, I think it's like $100 or so per YEAR. Unfortunately there are NO laws related to trans issues so it's not like you can even ASK for it to be covered or anything. But otherwise - yeah, I guess this health care system beats the US by a lot. But hey, weren't there recent changes in US' health care? In that there was a new public health care system or something? What's up with that?

I'd say, this considered, you're far luckier than any of us in the U.S. I've been full-time for 4 1/2 years, on testosterone for 2 1/2, and I can't get top surgery. For that matter, I can't see a doctor if I need to, in general. I have no health insurance, and can't afford it. My family disowned me because I'm trans, and I am now virtually homeless (will be actually homeless if I don't come up with at least $100 by the end of the day tomorrow), which leaves me with no options. Despite the fact that top surgery is hardly a necessity for me in the grand scheme of things, I have severe bursitis in both shoulders, which prevents me from working any jobs where lifting is required--- all from 4+ years of binding. Like I said, though, I can't even go to the doctor if I break a bone. I'd say, at this point, ANY health care system beats the one here in the U.S.

That said, I wish you the best. And as Tekla said, often it's the poorest folks who are most willing to give part of what little they have.

SD

[okydoky]

Yeah, definitely glad to have this health care system over the US one, especially with regards to just standard stuff. Thankfully, it's not like I have needed a doctor much, if at all, in the past few years, but it's definitely a comfort to know I have the option (and for free). So, yeah, while most health insurance doesn't cover trans-related things in the US OR here in Croatia, we at least have the other stuff working better. I mean, the public hospitals aren't great and whatnot, but at least you can get treatment for things if there's something minor/urgent. Usually if it's a more complex procedure, they might not have the required technology to do anything, and I'm not sure if getting referred to specialists elsewhere would still be covered or not. I'd guess no, but I can't be certain.

Thanks for the well wishes. Hope you get your top surgery soon enough. And hope that whole health care system becomes better organised with time in the US as well. Maybe if there was a public health care programme available for everyone, things like top surgery would also be included there. Who knows. One can hope though.

And I agree with the notion that it's those who are poorest that are most likely to help. It really is that way. In general, if the rich decide to give, they donate to something intangible and far away, whereas the poor will share everything he/she has with someone else in need.  I'm not saying this is a general rule that applies to all, of course, but I would say it's most common that way, unfortunately. Let's become rich and break the pattern and share with our fellow brothers and sisters