Quote from: Jessica_K on June 08, 2024, 01:57:44 AMTrans health care is available but waiting times can be decades.

I'm sorry things are taking so long to get resolved and approved for you.  We have a bunch of politicians here that keep pushing for Canadian and UK type health care here in the US.  Idiots!

Paulie.

At 61, my doc didn't even think age is a factor. Weight/bmi could be a factor, but I fell within parameters.  Having my full depth vaginoplasty on Wednesday. Insurance covers it though I have a max copay which will cost me $9500. I think op, or no op, orchi, or whatever depends on what is important to you. For me it was all or nothing. I couldn't think of myself as a woman with anything less than full depth.

So much of my life has passed by me living by others expectations and societal standards. I grew up and lived pleasing others as my own needs were pushed way down. I am working with my therapist about my needs and who I am. So it is hard to answer this question at this time. When I was young, I heard about sex change operations like Caroline Cossey. I dreamed of a life where I was a beautiful woman. But I lived by everyone else's terms. At this moment, I am defining what my authentic life will be. Surgeries might not be necessary. Time will tell.

Wo

Quote from: Paulie on June 08, 2024, 02:37:41 AMI'm sorry things are taking so long to get resolved and approved for you.  We have a bunch of politicians here that keep pushing for Canadian and UK type health care here in the US.  Idiots!

Paulie.

Wow, Idiots?... very strong from someone who I expect has never experienced the NHS at first hand. I recently emigrated to the USA.. I have experience of both systems.. and both are deeply flawed all be it in different ways. If I had my way, I would have a free at the point of service health care anyday over the minefeild and expense that is health insurance. Who's in plan, how much copay, how much oop?.. boggles the mind and then pick the wrong hospital, or ambulance and you are levelled with a crippling invoice that the insurance won't pay..  And that is if you can even afford insurance.. as a huge amount of US citizens can not and go without any secure healthcare options, using emergency services or charity.

As for waiting times in the UK.. for urgent care they are about as long as the USA, unfortunately there is an issue with transgender care, that is 5-6 years at the moment.. but, I did not want to wait, so I paid private for my surgery. I had it done within 3 months of getting the paperwork finalised.. Its either get the money or wait 5 years.. choice is yours.. sell your car, mortgage your house, use your pension.. it depends on how important now is. If your in the USA, you probably have a few thousand dollars pre-pay on your insurance, so even though your covered and waiting lists are about 6-12 months (some surgeons are more popular than others) its still going to cost most people a substantial out of pocket.. in the UK, 5 years to surgery from application and it is done without any cost to you, including all follow up care and lifetime support.
Idiots indeed..

I suffer from severe hemophilia so doing the op is impossible. I do wish I can go for FFS to pass better but even that it out of the question. Even going for Lasik is not recommended.

In the USA healthcare is employer based.  A very large company like Hartford Steam Boiler with 1200 engineers, inspectors, and technicians as part of its insurance operation has enough employees to offer Heath Plans from different insurance companies.  Smaller companies have fewer choices.

You may want to choose where you work for based on the Health Coverage you can get.

Quote from: Clarissa Heng on August 24, 2024, 06:10:00 AMI suffer from severe hemophilia so doing the op is impossible. I do wish I can go for FFS to pass better but even that it out of the question. Even going for Lasik is not recommended.

I'm so sorry to hear about the hemophilia. Life can be so unfair at times. All I can do is offer you a big HUG.
Gina

Wishing you all these best in making thoughtful decisions on staying NoOp or doing the surgeries.


Chrissy

Hard to tell. HRT helped my body become masculine enough to pass as a man. I love the changes I've got and sometimes I even consider not getting the surgeries, but I'm still working towards getting these done because I'm still dysphoric over my body.

Since I'm no longer so badly depressed I'd rather die than exist in the body I was born with, I don't feel like I'm as much in a hurry. I'd like to get top surgery done so I wouldn't use binders anymore and it'd help me live a healthier life. I'd also like to get bottom surgery to make me feel comfortable with my genitals.

However, I no longer feel like this is a life or death situation for me. I can wait until I get in a better space for these medical procedures.

It looks like that's how it's going to be.

It's starting to become more of a source of dysphoria for me. I have done these mental exercises before. The interesting thing I come up with is I would either be more comfortable with female genitals or none whatsoever.

Quote from: CosmicJoke on April 18, 2025, 01:45:43 PMIt's starting to become more of a source of dysphoria for me. I have done these mental exercises before. The interesting thing I come up with is I would either be more comfortable with female genitals or none whatsoever.

Wow. That has been my exact thinking over the past few months.