Trump Plan Would Cut Back Health Care Protections for Transgender People
The New York Times
By ROBERT PEAR APRIL 21, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/21/us/politics/trump-transgender-health-care.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fpolitics
"WASHINGTON — The Trump administration says it plans to roll back a rule issued by President Barack Obama that prevents doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies from discriminating against transgender people.
"Advocates said the change could jeopardize the significant gains that transgender people have seen in access to medical care, including gender reassignment procedures — treatments for which many insurers denied coverage in the past.
"The rule was adopted in 2016 to carry out a major civil rights law embedded in the Affordable Care Act. The law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in "any health program or activity" that receives federal financial assistance.
"The Obama administration said the rule covered "almost all practicing physicians in the United States" because they accept some form of federal remuneration or reimbursement. . . ."
I don't get it! What is the loophole where people think it is okay to discriminate against us. Did they never hear of "...liberty and justice for all?" How about, "Equal protection under the law."
:police:
Folks no bashing or attacking anyone. This is the one and only warning in regards to that or I will shut this thread down. Please keep in mind TOS 5, 10 and 15. Thanks
Mariah
A little more on the potential impact of the rule change. Under the ACA, the prohibition against sex discrimination has been interpreted as also prohibiting discrimination based on gender or gender identity. Thus, insurers and medical providers could not arbitrarily deny coverage or treatment for counseling, HRT, transition assistance, or gender-related surgical procedures.
from the NY Times article:
"Under the existing rule, health insurers cannot place arbitrary limits or restrictions on health services that help a person transition from one gender to another. These services may include counseling, psychotherapy, hormone therapy and a variety of surgical treatments.
"In the past, many insurers, as they denied coverage for such treatments, cited what they called the cosmetic or experimental nature of the procedures. The Obama administration said that view was 'outdated and not based on current standards of care.'"
Thus the potential outcome of the current administration's plan to revise the rule is that many of the medical, surgical, and/or therapeutic services that have been recognized over the past several years as covered by health insurance may once again be excluded from coverage.
Quote from: HappyMoni on April 21, 2018, 03:54:37 PM
I don't get it! What is the loophole where people think it is okay to discriminate against us.
It's called "deeply held religious belief", aka the Bible. Today, as throughout history, it's used to justify most anything a bigot may want to do.
As long as we allow the myths of this being a Christian nation or the Declaration of Independence and Constitution being based on the Bible then this bigotry will continue.
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The current administration strives to expand it to "deeply held religious and moral beliefs". This would appease those whose core beliefs do not come from religion. Sadly, this aids some people to label us as immoral.
Quote from: itsApril on April 21, 2018, 04:26:38 PM
A little more on the potential impact of the rule change. Under the ACA, the prohibition against sex discrimination has been interpreted as also prohibiting discrimination based on gender or gender identity. Thus, insurers and medical providers could not arbitrarily deny coverage or treatment for counseling, HRT, transition assistance, or gender-related surgical procedures.
from the NY Times article:
"Under the existing rule, health insurers cannot place arbitrary limits or restrictions on health services that help a person transition from one gender to another. These services may include counseling, psychotherapy, hormone therapy and a variety of surgical treatments.
"In the past, many insurers, as they denied coverage for such treatments, cited what they called the cosmetic or experimental nature of the procedures. The Obama administration said that view was 'outdated and not based on current standards of care.'"
Thus the potential outcome of the current administration's plan to revise the rule is that many of the medical, surgical, and/or therapeutic services that have been recognized over the past several years as covered by health insurance may once again be excluded from coverage.
This is precisely what I both expected and feared would happen, and why I'm pushing so hard for my GCS this year. If this mandate is lifted, how many insurance companies will choose to continue coverage? My only hope would be for it to be tied up in court, as the TG military ban has been.
Stephanie
Fortunately there are states that have protections in place via state law. Make sure you are aware of where those are and support them if possibly politically and otherwise.
I'm not American so I really don't understand why Trump is so obsessed with stripping transgender people from basic rights. Is there an objective reason behind it? like say, it costs less money for the government or something like that? Because right now he sounds like those closeted politicians who advocate against gay people but are on Grindr when nobody's watching.
Quote from: Charlie Nicki on April 25, 2018, 01:44:34 PM
I'm not American so I really don't understand why Trump is so obsessed with stripping transgender people from basic rights. Is there an objective reason behind it? like say, it costs less money for the government or something like that? Because right now he sounds like those closeted politicians who advocate against gay people but are on Grindr when nobody's watching.
Trump does it simply because his political base, mainly Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and conservative Catholics want it. It keeps their support secure. In the USA this is almost purely a religious issue. The Christians believe that treating us with equality and basic human decency infringes upon their freedom of religion; that is freedom to discriminate and marginalize any group defined as an abomination in their Bible.
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Quote from: Deborah on April 25, 2018, 01:50:37 PM
Trump does it simply because his political base, mainly Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and conservative Catholics want it. It keeps their support secure. In the USA this is almost purely a religious issue. The Christians believe that treating us with equality and basic human decency infringes upon their freedom of religion; that is freedom to discriminate and marginalize any group defined as an abomination in their Bible.
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I always live my life as if the next day my opportunities will slip away.. because all too often they have in the past. You could lose your job, your house, your partner.. even your very life. Nothing is guaranteed. If you have the opportunity by the whims of the current political regime to get SRS / FFS / BA / whatever? Take advantage of it! It may not be there or available tomorrow.
Heck, tomorrow we could all get nuked by Iran or North Korea or Russia or China or the USA or the sun go nova or whatever. Live your life as if the future is uncertain.. because frankly it is.
That's my personal philosophy. Your future plans are not guaranteed.
Quote from: Deborah on April 25, 2018, 01:50:37 PM
Trump does it simply because his political base, mainly Evangelicals, Pentecostals, and conservative Catholics want it. It keeps their support secure. In the USA this is almost purely a religious issue. The Christians believe that treating us with equality and basic human decency infringes upon their freedom of religion; that is freedom to discriminate and marginalize any group defined as an abomination in their Bible.
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Ohh I get it.
QuoteThis is precisely what I both expected and feared would happen, and why I'm pushing so hard for my GCS this year. If this mandate is lifted, how many insurance companies will choose to continue coverage?
QuoteNothing is guaranteed. If you have the opportunity by the whims of the current political regime to get SRS / FFS / BA / whatever? Take advantage of it! It may not be there or available tomorrow.
Sad observations, but absolutely TRUE! If you need some medical or surgical or therapeutic service to move forward with transition: GET IT NOW!
The HHS/ACA regulations and the broad interpretation given to them under the Obama administration opened a "window of opportunity" for trans folks. Over the last several years, thousands of trans folks have taken enormous steps forward in transition through the expansion of health insurance coverage. Simply put, if surgery or treatment was COVERED by insurance, we could afford it. If it is NOT COVERED, it will be out of reach financially for most.
The Trump administration is making it quite clear that it is their intention to CLOSE this window of opportunity to us. There's still some time - regulations can't be changed overnight. And there's the likelihood that we can fight at least a rearguard action in the federal courts to buy additional time. (That window is closing, too - as the current administration appoints more and more anti-LGBT nominees to LIFETIME positions as federal judges!)
Steph2.0 and Doreen are giving you great advice. The window of opportunity is open NOW, but it looks like it will be closing. GO THROUGH NOW, WHILE IT'S STILL OPEN!