HI there,
I'm posting on behalf of my son, Sam, 19yr old FTM, as I'm the one who is researching insurance for him. We live in MA and I just wanted to vent a bit if I can..about employers and insurance. I started a new job in Nov and they have United Healthcare which I know covers GRS, however, I found out in January that if it's a "self funded" plan, which it is, it doesn't have to follow state mandates..so now I have to search for individual coverage for Sam and don't wanna go with Mass Health as I know a lot of surgeons in MA do not accept this insurance. I'm thinking of Harvard Pilgrim; I already spoke to them and would have to pay approx. $150 a mth for Sam. I also cannot get him removed from my employer insurance (which I have to pay for also),they refuse to add GRS to the policy and will not take him off either. Yes, I've considered getting in touch w/Corporate who happen to be in TN but figured why start? I don't understand why an employer with over 70K employees can't adjust the policy. I'm also shocked and do not believe there is not one other transgender person in this company! As a parent, I'm just frustrated as Sam has transitioned over 2yrs ago and should have the same rights as every other human being but yet, this still seems to be a battle, even in MA! Any advice would be appreciated. Anyone who has gotten the top surgery in MA and used Harvard please let me know it went. Sam would like to have the top surgery done in the spring. I've looked into Mass Health Connector but I'd still have to pay $140 a mth going thru them and some docs won't accept it so I figured do it on my own and just deal with it for at least a year, so Sam can get his surgery. There are 2 surgeons we're thinking about - Dr. Bartlett in Boston and Dr. Johnson in RI.
Fenway Health is transgender friendly, any chance of switching to them? I'm a Weymouthite, by the way. :)
Hugs, Devlyn