http://blogs.federaltimes.com/federal-times-blog/2014/01/15/opm-considering-transgender-care-in-future-employee-health-plans/
OPM considering transgender care in future employee health plans
January 15th, 2014
Posted by Andy Medici
Federal employees may be one step closer to being able to access transgender care through their federal health insurance coverage.
The Office of Personnel Management is currently evaluating the exclusion of transgender care in the federal employee health benefit program, according to the agency.
But the agency said that no decision has been made yet and that when it does come to a decision it will be reflected in the coverage options for future health care plans.
While some company and local government health plans cover care for transgender policy-holders, the Federal government does not and specifically excludes transition-related care from coverage.
YES!! :D
keep your fingers crossed!!!
Yay! I was a fed for over 20 years. A little late for me :(
Maybe I should re-up!!
As much of an optimist as I usually am and like to be, I have my doubts and frustrations. I serve as president of GLIFAA, the association representing LGBT employees at the Dept. of State and other foreign affairs agencies, and our attempts to interact with OPM on this issue have been met only by silence. The same has been true for other LGBT organizations within the federal government. This is true despite the fact that we are "well hooked in" with the appropriate people. It may yet be that litigation will be required before OPM does the right thing that it could do so easily today with the stroke of a pen before its annual March meeting with insurance providers.
Well if OPM does it I will do my best to work for the federal government, I live in the right town for it after all.
What worries me though is that there is no legislation which means if we get a republican president next time as I suspect we will, he is quite likely to appoint a director that will reverse such policies.
I stated this in another thread, but the FEHB plans for Kaiser in California, do not have "sex transformations" in their Section 6 exclusion list as of 2014. I believe it is the only Federal health plan that covers several transition costs, including GRS.
Freya