Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So, I lost my job and now have new health insurance that isn't going to cover surgery with Bowers because she out of network. It looks like I'm going to have to have it done in Boston at BMC.
Has anyone here had GRS there yet? If so, are you happy with the results? How long was the wait time? Any issues going through the process?
Any info is greatly appreciated.

I know they're doing procedures, not sure how many they're all up to par month now. They've let people know that the first couple were successful. Their process involves a review board so that will be what decides whether you're eligible for surgery with them. Time to my consult was 3 months and if accepted I'm told I'd have a surgery date in the April - May timeframe. However it's unlikely I'll pass the review board.

My consultation w/ Dr Oates is at the end of this month and I expect to hear more details of the procedures they've completed then. I'm holding this as a backup bit expect to be under the knife with Heidi Wittenberg in the same timeframe.

MA insurance doesn't allow for exclusion of prior conditions and does require GCS coverage. You may have to push fairly hard to get Bowers covered, however it ought to be possible.

Are you too late to start COBRA? I know it's expensive but I had 3 months to sign up for it. Of course if you're not working then you may be unable to afford the stay in SF that presumably goes with a Bowers procedure even if it was insured.

Quote from: michelle666 on December 04, 2016, 06:59:12 AM
So, I lost my job and now have new health insurance that isn't going to cover surgery with Bowers because she out of network. It looks like I'm going to have to have it done in Boston at BMC.
Has anyone here had GRS there yet? If so, are you happy with the results? How long was the wait time? Any issues going through the process?
Any info is greatly appreciated.

They are very new in this field, their first surgeries were supposed to be this summer, so it might be difficult to find someone who had it done there.

Personally I would more comfortable using someone with a lot of experience.

- karen

Quote from: Michelle on December 04, 2016, 06:59:12 AM
So, I lost my job and now have new health insurance that isn't going to cover surgery with Bowers because she out of network. It looks like I'm going to have to have it done in Boston at BMC.
Has anyone here had GRS there yet? If so, are you happy with the results? How long was the wait time? Any issues going through the process?
Any info is greatly appreciated.

Hi Michelle
I had my surgery a couple of years ago with Dr. Marci Bowers and I'm so happy and pleased with the results. I waited a while but it was worth it. If you call Janet at Dr. Bowers office she can and will help you get covered by your insurance company.
She is wonderful to work with.

Hug's Lyndsey

Quote from: SadieBlake on December 04, 2016, 07:43:15 AM
I know they're doing procedures, not sure how many they're all up to par month now. They've let people know that the first couple were successful. Their process involves a review board so that will be what decides whether you're eligible for surgery with them. Time to my consult was 3 months and if accepted I'm told I'd have a surgery date in the April - May timeframe. However it's unlikely I'll pass the review board.

My consultation w/ Dr Oates is at the end of this month and I expect to hear more details of the procedures they've completed then. I'm holding this as a backup bit expect to be under the knife with Heidi Wittenberg in the same timeframe.

MA insurance doesn't allow for exclusion of prior conditions and does require GCS coverage. You may have to push fairly hard to get Bowers covered, however it ought to be possible.

Are you too late to start COBRA? I know it's expensive but I had 3 months to sign up for it. Of course if you're not working then you may be unable to afford the stay in SF that presumably goes with a Bowers procedure even if it was insured.

I could still start COBRA, but the cost is almost $900 a month. Thats a bit much to pay while I'm on unemployment.

Quote from: Lyndsey on December 04, 2016, 10:33:35 AM
Hi Michelle
I had my surgery a couple of years ago with Dr. Marci Bowers and I'm so happy and pleased with the results. I waited a while but it was worth it. If you call Janet at Dr. Bowers office she can and will help you get covered by your insurance company.
She is wonderful to work with.

Hug's Lyndsey

I have an appt with Bowers for November 2017. The problem is with my insurance, she is out of network for them. I sent Janet and Robin an email yesterday to see if they have ever worked with my new insurance company. I would prefer to go to Bowers. I've been waiting over two years now for my appt.

Yes I'm in a similar position and am barely scraping by paying COBRA on selling art and a bit of contract work here and there. Do you have options to get on bcbs thru the MA system? I see your surgery date is a ways out, how are your prospects for being reemployed by then? If I can help with any networking (biotech and software industry, academia) please feel free to PM.

My doctor at Fenway told me there was a very long waiting list for GCS at BMC so it might do no harm to set up an appointment for a consult and see what they have to say. You may have another job and health insurance by the time you get anywhere near surgery in Boston.


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Quote from: Briezy on December 05, 2016, 11:47:27 AM
My doctor at Fenway told me there was a very long waiting list for GCS at BMC so it might do no harm to set up an appointment for a consult and see what they have to say. You may have another job and health insurance by the time you get anywhere near surgery in Boston.


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I can't even get in touch with anyone there. I've left probably two messages a week in the past month and no one has gotten back to me.

Quote from: SadieBlake on December 05, 2016, 08:50:03 AM
Yes I'm in a similar position and am barely scraping by paying COBRA on selling art and a bit of contract work here and there. Do you have options to get on bcbs thru the MA system? I see your surgery date is a ways out, how are your prospects for being reemployed by then? If I can help with any networking (biotech and software industry, academia) please feel free to PM.

I would like to think my prospects are good. I have 17 years experience in tech support, but no one is looking for that. Everyone wants someone right out of school.

QuoteMy doctor at Fenway told me there was a very long waiting list for GCS at BMC so it might do no harm to set up an appointment for a consult and see what they have to say. You may have another job and health insurance by the time you get anywhere near surgery in Boston.

As far as I can see the wait isn't so long. I completed registration with them in Oct including 2 out of 3 support letters sent in mid November  and their guidance was surgery date 6 months from then. I see Dr Oates on the 29th, they originally scheduled for next week but a day I was already committed for electrolysis in the same time block.

Quote from: michelle666 on December 05, 2016, 01:54:39 PM
I can't even get in touch with anyone there. I've left probably two messages a week in the past month and no one has gotten back to me.

My experience has been that they take time to respond but they do respond and they're very thorough. You probably left a message for Supraja. I've found her to be great, if not timely I  responding.   

Good gawd at even getting an appointment with bowers all the way late 2017 [emoji15][emoji15][emoji15][emoji15]
How is your credit ? I just putting everything on my credit and when I get my surgery going to just go in a gentleman club and pay off my debt. Either way I wish u luck sis


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This thread has been quite helpful, as a MA resident/Same health insurance and Fenway patient I've been curious how my insurance will end up covering SRS as it's covered by my insurance. Conflicted at that they don't allow out of state surgeons and while it's good as I don't have to travel far as boston is just a 45 min drive north and that the waitlist shouldn't take 2-3 years as most surgeons do it is a bit worrying that my option is limited to a place with very little experience in the surgery. When I see my doctor in January i'll certainly enquire more about it as I know my insurance requires 12 months of HRT (May 20th 2017 will be that date) 1 year of RLE (Changed legal documents october and will be presenting as female in public very soon) and then letters/review of course.

I know my post wasn't able to give you answers but thanks for the helpful information!

QuoteConflicted at that they don't allow out of state surgeons and while it's good as I don't have to travel far as boston is just a 45 min drive north and that the waitlist shouldn't take 2-3 years as most surgeons do it is a bit worrying that my option is limited to a place with very little experience in the surgery.

Maybe you mean your insurance specifically, BCBS is definitely covering my surgery in SF next spring, I've asked to be sure I won't be forced to choose the BMC team and gotten a positive answer that going out of state will be fine.

I had my consult with BMC's Dr Oates last week, here's the info I have from him.

As of Dec 29 they'd finished 6 procedures, all successful. I remain impressed with Dr Oates' experience. I will probably still be going to Dr Wittenberg in April, however I'm glad to have a backup possibility.

One thing dr Oates emphasized was that they're here for followup care even if I have my surgery in San Francisco, that's also reassuring.

Their process requires as many as 4 referral letters, including the usual 2 therapy letters, a PCP and an endocrinologist. All of these documents need to be in place before their surgery board will make a decision to accept a patient and then proceed to scheduling.

Does anyone know any of those six girls? Very curious of their experience. Waiting for a call back to set up my initial consult. Should I start gathering my letters now or wait until I've been seen? And what exactly should they say? Like I get the therapy ones, "Brie has experienced gender dysphoria for this long and in treatment with me since whenever" but what about my pcp. He knows I'm transgender but is clueless as far as what that really means. He just happens to be a really good general practitioner. Like does he just say I'm healthy physically to have surgery? Would just a simple release of my medical records do that?


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Yes, get your letters in progress, BMC won't start the process of approving you for surgery until they have all of your letters. Their coordinator will be sending you a packet with all of the letter requirements. PM me if you'd like me to forward my copies.

Quote from: SadieBlake on December 06, 2016, 02:31:37 PM
Maybe you mean your insurance specifically, BCBS is definitely covering my surgery in SF next spring, I've asked to be sure I won't be forced to choose the BMC team and gotten a positive answer that going out of state will be fine.

Had my consultation with Dr. Oates this past Wednesday and found him really nice! Dr. Oates also has received my doctors referral letter for surgery as well as a very long letter of support cosigned by 3 mental health professionals as I see multiple people so I'm pretty much all set with the hard part. I just wasn't able to start hair removal where it's needed as I don't have much money and facial hair is by far more important to remove for me. I was told as soon as I  am done with hair removal (probably this fall sadly) to contact Surpraja and she'll set up my case to start the board approval and all that fancy stuff. Dr. Oates also mentioned that they are currently performing 2 surgeries a month and plan to go to one a week come September with a chance to go to 4 starting July if they feel comfortable enough and that when they increase the surgeries they'll be able to take people sooner. Quite excited!

Quote from: DuchessBianca on February 08, 2017, 07:51:25 PM
Had my consultation with Dr. Oates this past Wednesday and found him really nice! Dr. Oates also has received my doctors referral letter for surgery as well as a very long letter of support cosigned by 3 mental health professionals as I see multiple people so I'm pretty much all set with the hard part. I just wasn't able to start hair removal where it's needed as I don't have much money and facial hair is by far more important to remove for me. I was told as soon as I  am done with hair removal (probably this fall sadly) to contact Surpraja and she'll set up my case to start the board approval and all that fancy stuff. Dr. Oates also mentioned that they are currently performing 2 surgeries a month and plan to go to one a week come September with a chance to go to 4 starting July if they feel comfortable enough and that when they increase the surgeries they'll be able to take people sooner. Quite excited!

I was told by BMC when I called and talked to them that just recently "Mystic Vally Dermatology" in Stoneham Ma bills the Insurance directly for electrolysis for GCS.

Quote from: michelle666 on December 05, 2016, 04:53:05 AM
I have an appt with Bowers for November 2017. The problem is with my insurance, she is out of network for them. I sent Janet and Robin an email yesterday to see if they have ever worked with my new insurance company. I would prefer to go to Bowers. I've been waiting over two years now for my appt.

If Janet or Robin can't figure this out for you I don't know what to say. The wait for Dr. Marci Lee Bowers is well worth it. I had Blue Cross & Blue Shield PPO Suit case Insurance it it covers everything but my stay out there. It was out of network but will be approved through the process as they do accept BC & BS but across the country needs approval.

Hug's
Lyndsey

I had an orchi with Dr Oates in September. Really impressed with him and the staff at the Moakley surgical center. I had healing issues and he had me in twice on a moment's notice to check it out.

I haven't seen it mentioned, but this is a teaching hospital, and Dr Oates had a student in attendance every time I saw him other than my initial consult.

I give BMC a thumbs up.

Hugs, Devlyn