Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: nikkie on August 11, 2014, 02:49:28 AM

Title: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: nikkie on August 11, 2014, 02:49:28 AM
I live in Florida, USA and was looking up legal name change process/gender marker change/social security name change/ top surgery process and everything is easy in my state, EXCEPT for the fact that there are only a hand full of gender therapists, 1 endo in my county that works with trans people specifically, and no informed consent for HRT. Wow, FL needs more trans* resources cause there ain't nothing here. Kinda sad.

I was looking up getting insurance and realized that its way too expensive for me. Looks like after I age out of my parents insurance I'll be paying for everything out of pocket. That'll be in about 6 months.

I'm already paying out of pocket for GT at $140 per session. I have no idea how often I have to see the GT since I'll be having my first appt on Wednesday! Woohoo!

So yeah, the endo is also $150 without insurance. I can get blood work done for like $25 at the clinic for low income since I'm not on the books. Not sure how much T is going to be yet, but I'll try either walmart or that online pharmacy everyone has been talking about on here.

I'm planning to use Garramone so that's also out of pocket.

No point in getting insurance since the lowest deductible I can get is $3,000 and I barley go to the doctors for being sick. 

Looks like I'll be using my insurance for as much as I can before I age out. lol :)
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: David27 on August 11, 2014, 10:00:26 PM
Are you still in college?

If you are does your college give you free blood draws and such?
I've used this when they referred me to get my T tested on a certain day.

If you can get insurance to cover it maybe like $15 per vial (10mL). Other wise probably $65 (verify this with others). Mine lasts me 10 months, so even if I was paying full price it would be less than $10 extra to save per month (including needles and alcohol pads).
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: Bimmer Guy on August 11, 2014, 10:21:35 PM
Quote from: nikkie on August 11, 2014, 02:49:28 AM
I live in Florida, USA and was looking up legal name change process/gender marker change/social security name change/ top surgery process and everything is easy in my state, EXCEPT for the fact that there are only a hand full of gender therapists, 1 endo in my county that works with trans people specifically, and no informed consent for HRT. Wow, FL needs more trans* resources cause there ain't nothing here. Kinda sad.

I was looking up getting insurance and realized that its way too expensive for me. Looks like after I age out of my parents insurance I'll be paying for everything out of pocket. That'll be in about 6 months.

I'm already paying out of pocket for GT at $140 per session. I have no idea how often I have to see the GT since I'll be having my first appt on Wednesday! Woohoo!

So yeah, the endo is also $150 without insurance. I can get blood work done for like $25 at the clinic for low income since I'm not on the books. Not sure how much T is going to be yet, but I'll try either walmart or that online pharmacy everyone has been talking about on here.

I'm planning to use Garramone so that's also out of pocket.

No point in getting insurance since the lowest deductible I can get is $3,000 and I barley go to the doctors for being sick. 

Looks like I'll be using my insurance for as much as I can before I age out. lol :)

Yes, go to the dentist, the eye doctor, gynecologist, order a 90 day supply of any medications you take, get your PCP to give you a script for a full blood work panel, etc. before you hit that "golden age".

Have you checked out the Health Insurance Marketplace for insurance (Obamacare)?  Where did you find this $3,000 deduct as the best you can get ?
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: SWNID on August 11, 2014, 10:35:10 PM
I totally didn't even realize that resources can be so limited outside of school. I go to campus therapists for letters, campus physician for T, and they worked together to push local surgeons for my surgical needs.
In the country I'm from, everyone is using hormones without supervision because such care does not exist at all (surgeries are available, but HRTs are not). So when I'm in U.S. for school, I just thought that everyone here has the same resources as I do. Apparently I have been too naive:(
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: nikkie on August 12, 2014, 12:38:13 AM
Quote from: Brett on August 11, 2014, 10:21:35 PM
Yes, go to the dentist, the eye doctor, gynecologist, order a 90 day supply of any medications you take, get your PCP to give you a script for a full blood work panel, etc. before you hit that "golden age".

Have you checked out the Health Insurance Marketplace for insurance (Obamacare)?  Where did you find this $3,000 deduct as the best you can get ?

Yes, this was with the Health Insurance Marketplace.
I'm going to continue trying. If I can find one with a $1,000 deductible then I'll take it but need to make sure that they at least work with my current endo at least cause that's the only one I know will be the most.
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: nikkie on August 12, 2014, 12:40:37 AM
Quote from: SWNID on August 11, 2014, 10:35:10 PM
I totally didn't even realize that resources can be so limited outside of school. I go to campus therapists for letters, campus physician for T, and they worked together to push local surgeons for my surgical needs.
In the country I'm from, everyone is using hormones without supervision because such care does not exist at all (surgeries are available, but HRTs are not). So when I'm in U.S. for school, I just thought that everyone here has the same resources as I do. Apparently I have been too naive:(

I sometimes wish I had gone to school but being that school was kind of too expensive I didn't want to end up completely broke. So, I just started working after high school. I'm glad that you are able to get care here. I wish you well if you decide to go back to your country after school.
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: Bimmer Guy on August 12, 2014, 06:42:29 PM
Quote from: nikkie on August 12, 2014, 12:38:13 AM
Yes, this was with the Health Insurance Marketplace.
I'm going to continue trying. If I can find one with a $1,000 deductible then I'll take it but need to make sure that they at least work with my current endo at least cause that's the only one I know will be the most.

Hey, nikkie, sorry it is hard to find a cheap one.  I forget that cost/quality of the plans changes from state to state.  :embarrassed: If I were you, I would call them just because they tend to be good as hustling through the plans to suggest the best one, especially if you have a lot to choose from.  Good luck.
Title: Re: While Researching My State and Other things
Post by: Allyda on August 14, 2014, 12:58:30 PM
Hi Nikki,

I live in West Central Florida and had my gender marker changed on my driver's license this past April 11th. All that was required was a letter from my Endo however, go to your local DMV first to get a list of what is required on the letter for there are certain things/Doctors info that must be on it before they'll accept it. Once you have that, it will cost $32. for the gender marker change. Once you have your DL changed changing the rest is much easier. My name is gender neutral so I didn't change it yet. Although, I will be swapping my middle name, Allyda, around with my first name, Phoenix, pretty soon. This requires a Judges signature, and court costs. If you want, you can pm me for details.

Ali :icon_flower: