Hey guys.  Just what the title says; does BCBS in NJ cover trans-related expenses?  Most importantly surgeries??

I thought I read somewhere that since the fall they have been; but I'm not sure.    I hope that they are so I can go to get my IUD and be wearing my prosthetic.  I feel that wearing the prosthetic will allow me relax when getting it inserted.  I would just hope that no one would see the prosthetic and then rat me out to my insurance if they were trans-phobic.

Has anyone else heard that about BCBS?  If you haven't do you know of any good NJ policies that do? Thanks!

Call the number on your insurance card and ask.

Quote from: Nygeel on June 02, 2013, 10:17:59 AM
Call the number on your insurance card and ask.

I would but if they don't cover it; I'd be afraid when I asked, they'd flag my account and cancel my policy. I've heard of that happening before.

I was just hoping someone else on here has BCBS NJ and knows the answer.

if you dont find the answer here you could try ask on transmen worldwide or other facebook groups maybe someone knows those things.

I don't think it's that easy with insurance. It depends on the plan, as most of these have hundreds or maybe thousands of plans. Mostly plans that cover trans surgery will be large liberal companies. Pretty sure, say, that if you worked for Google it would be covered and pretty sure that if you worked for the Southern Baptist church of the US it would not be.

--Jay

Hi, I have BCBS NJ and I've spoken to them about this numerous times.  The determining factor is what specific policy/plan your employer has chosen to purchase and make available to their employees.  Although the employer who provides me with the insurance did not choose a plan that covers SRS of any kind, it does cover my T as well as my therapy (through other branches of the plan). What BCBS advised me was to contact my Flexible Spending Account provider and that they will likely cover it (or reimburse) because they generally cover what the IRS considers a medical tax deductible expense. Although I can't guarantee this 100% because I myself have not spoken to my FSA vendor.  Hope this helps!

P.S. - I'm not sure about the legality or them cancelling your policy because of a question. Especially since there are privacy rules in place for those types of situations.

Good Luck! and update to let us know if you find anything else out.
Thanks

Quote from: Tyler90210 on June 05, 2013, 01:15:02 AM
I would but if they don't cover it; I'd be afraid when I asked, they'd flag my account and cancel my policy. I've heard of that happening before.

I was just hoping someone else on here has BCBS NJ and knows the answer.

I called my insurance company (BCBS-IL) to ask that exact question, and nothing happened to my policy.

They specifically exclude anything trans*-related, for what it's worth.

Quote from: androgynoid on June 06, 2013, 02:16:39 PM
I called my insurance company (BCBS-IL) to ask that exact question, and nothing happened to my policy.

They specifically exclude anything trans*-related, for what it's worth.

Just feel like putting in my little knowledge (and it's little) that BCBS-NC does cover top surgery under some plans.

I've called a few insurance companies to see if I could buy a policy that would cover my top surgery. Some had plans to cover TG stuff, but only if the plan was bought by an employer not an individual.