I am currently in community college with a great chance of getting into a top state school where i live. This school has trans inclusive healthcare they say they even cover srs. Has anyone ever gotten hormones or surgery whilst on student insurance? I don't care so much for surgery as much as hormones, any idea how long it'd be before I can get them?
I ask because I have medicaid and I dont know which would be better to go with...
Student health insurance is probably going to vary by school, so you'd need to look at the specifics of the policy to see what the requirements are for everything. Some plans require you to follow a certain progression before they'll agree to pay for things (ie. you see a therapist for 6 months, you go on hormones for a year, you have top surgery, you have a hysto, you have bottom surgery - and they'll pay as long as you do it in that order within their guidelines). Some plans just say they'll cover everything, but your doctor/surgeon needs to write a letter of medical necessity or request a pre-authorization.
When in doubt, contact the customer service representatives at the insurer. They may need to look it up or get back to you when a supervisor is available, but typically they're going to be able to give you the most in depth answer for your specific plan.
I intend to. I have an appointment next week to start HRT. My school insurance also covers SRS, which I intend on having, but of course that's a bit down the line.
Is it a realistic goal to be able to do through the school though? I've heard from acquaintances that it can take years to get approved is there a wait list or anything of the sort
Quote from: JHeron on January 26, 2016, 10:07:47 PM
Is it a realistic goal to be able to do through the school though? I've heard from acquaintances that it can take years to get approved is there a wait list or anything of the sort
I'm sure it varies by the school, but this might sometimes be an issue. I guess how long you'll be at your school and covered by them matters a lot. I'm in a graduate program so I'll be around for quite a few years anyway. I've read my plan details and I don't see any requirements that look very detailed. It just states thoroughly what kind of services will be covered and what will not.
Quote from: JHeron on January 26, 2016, 10:07:47 PM
Is it a realistic goal to be able to do through the school though? I've heard from acquaintances that it can take years to get approved is there a wait list or anything of the sort
Sounds like it would be specific to your school and plan.
My school had a student health services center where you could be seen by a doctor, get prescribed medication, etc. but didn't offer HRT in house. If you came in asking for it, they referred you to a nearby clinic.
I would take a look at the plan and see if they have a list of in-network providers that you can look at, then I'd call the school and ask. If they have a health office, they should be able to tell you what they can/can't do for you, and what the procedures would be.