How much does insurance cover for a therapist?

Top surgery?

HRT?

SRS?

How much would you have to front yourself? Would you need to take out an enormous loan and spend a few years during and post-college in debt?

I want to keep a close eye on myself over the next year and see a therapist about the possibility of transition once I get to college if my feelings haven't changed. But without any financial support from my family, is it possible for a full-time college student to make their transition?

College is going to be some of the most important years of my young adult life, and I don't really want to live them all as a woman. But I've got a lot of thinking to do.. 

Yes.  Many schools have therapists you can see for free.  Often times, testosterone is covered by student health insurance.  Other times there is a local clinic or organization that can set you up with it for free or cheap.  Some health insurance (none student that I know of) will cover top surgery, but most do not.  (Kaiser and Medi-CAL both do; some Aetna plans also cover it).

Where are you from? I can give you a much more complete answer with your general location.

I live in Pennsylvania at the moment.. I'm going to college in New York next year, and hopefully can claim citizenship there by the end of 2010.

So I can probably get on hormones and a therapist without breaking my back to pay for them, I think I can live with paying for top surgery.. I'll have to take out a loan, if I can.

Thanks for the information, it's good to know there's stuff out there.

Is it even possible for a transsexual to transition as a broke college kid?

Yes.  I did it.  Graduating in December and I'm having my Orchi next month.  It's possible, but it takes a lot of hard work and many supportive people (therapist, endo, urologist, etc.)

Jenn

Congratulations, Jenn! I bet it feels great. 

Just so you know, make sure you see an actual therapist with a Ph.D. because they're the only ones who can write the letters for hormones.  Colleges may set you up a counselor or something similar, who can't write the necessary letters.

What about broke college kids about to graduate with a ton of loans to pay back!? 

Oh and I'm in Pennslyvania as well lol  Pittsburgh area

Wow, Aiden, about six hours from me. And we're almost in the same boat, too. Yay? Not looking forward to brokeness, but hey, you do what you have to.

Thanks for the advice, Natalie, I'll make sure to get a certified guy. Or girl. 

Quote from: NatalieW on August 27, 2008, 10:40:55 PM
Just so you know, make sure you see an actual therapist with a Ph.D. because they're the only ones who can write the letters for hormones.  Colleges may set you up a counselor or something similar, who can't write the necessary letters.

not true.  my therapist was an MA.

Posted on: August 27, 2008, 10:17:37 PM

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Quote from: Lindsey on August 27, 2008, 10:11:36 PM
I live in Pennsylvania at the moment.. I'm going to college in New York next year, and hopefully can claim citizenship there by the end of 2010.

So I can probably get on hormones and a therapist without breaking my back to pay for them, I think I can live with paying for top surgery.. I'll have to take out a loan, if I can.

Thanks for the information, it's good to know there's stuff out there.

Check out the Mazzoni Center in Philly.  Apparently it's against the rules to link, but google it.  And where in NY? 

Thanks Mister!

NYC, either Queens or Brooklyn depending on where I get in.

Quote from: Lindsey on August 28, 2008, 01:03:47 AM
Thanks Mister!

NYC, either Queens or Brooklyn depending on where I get in.

In NYC, Callen-Lorde's the place to go.

You're amazing and you know way too much.

I appreciate it! I'll look up Callen-Lordes, I've already checked out the Mazzoni Center online and it looks really good, better than anything in the near area.

Quote from: Lindsey on August 28, 2008, 01:26:28 AM
You're amazing and you know way too much.

I appreciate it! I'll look up Callen-Lordes, I've already checked out the Mazzoni Center online and it looks really good, better than anything in the near area.

Ha!  Thank you.  I fancy myself a quite resourceful person and it's always nice when it comes in handy.  If you need any other info/clinics/whatever, ask away!

Quote from: Lindsey on August 27, 2008, 10:36:30 PM
Congratulations, Jenn! I bet it feels great. 

It really does, it's been quite a journey.  Thanks sweetie  Best of luck!

Jenn

Quote from: Mister on August 28, 2008, 12:19:49 AM

Quote from: NatalieW on August 27, 2008, 10:40:55 PM
Just so you know, make sure you see an actual therapist with a Ph.D. because they're the only ones who can write the letters for hormones.  Colleges may set you up a counselor or something similar, who can't write the necessary letters.

not true.  my therapist was an MA

Oh.  I thought they had to have a Ph.D, but I guess I was wrong.  Well, then the best thing would be to ask straight out "Are you qualified to write the necessary letters?" because some counselors aren't qualified.

Quote from: NatalieW on August 28, 2008, 11:44:49 AM

Quote from: Mister on August 28, 2008, 12:19:49 AM

Quote from: NatalieW on August 27, 2008, 10:40:55 PM
Just so you know, make sure you see an actual therapist with a Ph.D. because they're the only ones who can write the letters for hormones.  Colleges may set you up a counselor or something similar, who can't write the necessary letters.

not true.  my therapist was an MA

Oh.  I thought they had to have a Ph.D, but I guess I was wrong.  Well, then the best thing would be to ask straight out "Are you qualified to write the necessary letters?" because some counselors aren't qualified.

I don't really know who that would be, unless you live in a state where therapists don't need to be licensed.  Back in my homeland (Jersey), one of the common therapists for transfolk to go to was an MSW.  Her letters worked just fine.

Hmm.
My insurance covers... at least some of the therapy. It's $50 a visit for me. My insurance probably will not cover top surgery because it is "cosmetic surgery." SRS MIGHT have some coverage... my buddy Sean had phalloplasty and he works in a parking garage. He isn't swimming in money.

My insurance should cover part of the HRT.

I think top surgery can be from $3,000-10,000+ or something. Depending on how good I am at saving money, I might take out a small loan to get it moving. The motorcycle I want is also $3,000 so I'll keep track of how long it took me to save up for it. If I have no living expenses (meaning if I stay with my dad while I'm in college) then it should take something like a year, I think. I'd have to work part time, of course.

My dad was acting like he'd help me financially with top surgery. I told him I want to pay at least half, if not more. We'll wait until I can save up the cash. I mean, seriously. He's already paying for my therapy and he said he'll pay for my hormones if I get them through Kaiser (pretty much he said he won't help me self-medicate; I need a prescription).

I do believe there is financial aid for health coverage for college students. I do know that I have insurance coverage at my school as long as I have 12 units or more per semester. I think this lasts until I'm 25, but I have to be consistent. You could also apply for scholarships at your school so you have more money set aside for medical.

I'm probably not going to be transitioned before college is over, and I'm still a freshman. Transition takes years. I plan on being a student for maybe just 3 or 4. I don't expect to have top surgery that soon. Any sooner and I'll be quite surprised.

Quote from: Elwood on August 28, 2008, 06:32:42 PM
Hmm.
My insurance covers... at least some of the therapy. It's $50 a visit for me. My insurance probably will not cover top surgery because it is "cosmetic surgery." SRS MIGHT have some coverage... my buddy Sean had phalloplasty and he works in a parking garage. He isn't swimming in money.

My insurance should cover part of the HRT.

I think top surgery can be from $3,000-10,000+ or something. Depending on how good I am at saving money, I might take out a small loan to get it moving. The motorcycle I want is also $3,000 so I'll keep track of how long it took me to save up for it. If I have no living expenses (meaning if I stay with my dad while I'm in college) then it should take something like a year, I think. I'd have to work part time, of course.

My dad was acting like he'd help me financially with top surgery. I told him I want to pay at least half, if not more. We'll wait until I can save up the cash. I mean, seriously. He's already paying for my therapy and he said he'll pay for my hormones if I get them through Kaiser (pretty much he said he won't help me self-medicate; I need a prescription).

I do believe there is financial aid for health coverage for college students. I do know that I have insurance coverage at my school as long as I have 12 units or more per semester. I think this lasts until I'm 25, but I have to be consistent. You could also apply for scholarships at your school so you have more money set aside for medical.

I'm probably not going to be transitioned before college is over, and I'm still a freshman. Transition takes years. I plan on being a student for maybe just 3 or 4. I don't expect to have top surgery that soon. Any sooner and I'll be quite surprised.

It depends on your plan, of course, but Kaiser covers testosterone, top surgery (with their surgeons only) and hysterectomy.  I haven't heard of anyone using Kaiser for bottom surgery.

Posted on: August 28, 2008, 11:05:55 PM

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It depends on your plan, of course, but Kaiser covers testosterone, top surgery (with their surgeons only) and hysterectomy.  I haven't heard of anyone using Kaiser for bottom surgery.

Quote from: Elwood
I'm probably not going to be transitioned before college is over, and I'm still a freshman. Transition takes years. I plan on being a student for maybe just 3 or 4. I don't expect to have top surgery that soon. Any sooner and I'll be quite surprised.

Does it really take that long?  I was hoping I could get diagnosed in 4 months, start hormones in another 6, and top surgery in another year.

If I get the ball rolling at a good center so I don't have to do too much dancing with people who don't have experience in trans.

That'd be under two years. How unrealistic is that?

Quote from: Lindsey on August 29, 2008, 01:26:07 AM\
That'd be under two years. How unrealistic is that?

Not unrealistic at all.  I came out in May, had my lone therapy session in September (which i cancelled twice due to illness. it was originally scheduled for June), started testosterone four days later, had top surgery in January and a hysto in late April.  One year and I'm done.