It's open enrollment time at my workplace and once again no benefits plans are offered that cover transgender services. But they added coverage for employees' pets. Yes: pets. I'm toying with the idea of sending the following to HR.



I have been able to verify with a representative from {the Company's insurance broker} that again {the Company} will not be offering health plans that cover transgender services. It seems these services are also excluded from the Health Savings Account (HSA) again too.

I realize that I might be the only trans person employed by {the Company}. To say I am in a numeric minority would be an understatement. But I find it disheartening that {the Company} employees can get health coverage for their pets this year while I must pay out of pocket for services and procedures that are medically indicated for my diagnosis. Animals can get coverage, while I the human employee cannot.

Being transsexual is not a lifestyle choice or change. The services, medications, and procedures used to treat gender dysphoria (formerly known in the DSM as Gender Identity Disorder) are needed to treat what amounts to a birth defect, to describe it in the simplest possible terms.

I understand that for 2013 these things are final and there is nothing I can do. I would strongly urge {the Company} to have such coverage added for 2014. Or, at the very least, have the exclusion lifted from the HSA.

I might be the only openly trans person who works for {the Company}. There could be others who are not "out", as it were. And there could others in the future.



In reality, I don't expect this letter would do anything. But it really bothers me that pets can get coverage when I can't.

Should I send it? Or should I just leave well enough alone? Thoughts?

My opinion is that you should be upset about not getting coverage. I also feel you shouldn't be upset about the pet coverage. It's really two separate things. Hugs, Devlyn

Pet insurance :} oh well.  But it does cost as much to take you pet to the veterinarian in as when a person goes to the doctor. 

It would be nice to have insurance that didn't "specifically" exclude transgendered (as my policy does).

Good luck with your letter, I hope your in good standing with management.

I think it is very well written and should be received well. You state your situation with evidence to support your case. You also state what it is that bothers you and why. I would encourage you to send it since you did such a good job on it, and it is a very important issue.

Every time someone like you takes a small action, like delivering your letter, it contributes to helping trans people everywhere.

Thank you on behalf of all of us.

Human health coverage and pet health coverage are from two different sources.  But it does surprise me that the is no coverage for GD.

And yet, the Company will pay to insure the pets of all of the employees. It might be from different sources, but it's still the Company that will be paying.

When the company offers a benefit like pet insurance that a large percentage of the employees enjoy, they reap a benefit. Unfortunately, transgender or gender variant people are such a small percentage that the outlay won't be recouped. I really think your letter works just as well without the pet insurance paragraph. The focus should be on your needs, not others. When an employee is having a discussion with management, you must never let them start comparing their situation with another employee. "We're here to talk about you, not employee "X" is the mantra.

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on December 11, 2012, 06:43:15 PM
My opinion is that you should be upset about not getting coverage. I also feel you shouldn't be upset about the pet coverage. It's really two separate things. Hugs, Devlyn

While I agree with Devlyn and others, I do feel that the 'why do animals get it and not me' is more likely to drive home the point. Sorry you're going through this hon. I do believe you should say something. But I don't know how secure your job is. Can you afford to look like a 'troublemaker' (for lack of a better word)?

I guess one of the reasons behind mentioning the pets is that they do not contribute to the Company. I do. However, I'm just a support analyst. My experience in support has been that companies offer it only because the user base expects it.

I think my boss and his boss would support me. But I'm not so sure about HR. There's been a lot of shake-ups this past year. I'd like to think I could bring this up without fear of reprisal. But I understand how at-will employment works.

I have not sent this thing yet. And I might not. I'm still conflicted, but I feel that I should mention something.