US Health Insurance & The Affordable Care Act

[KabitTarah]

http😕/www.thenation.com/article/169391/what-affordable-care-act-means-transgender-people#

Assuming we still have the ACA by next year, non-discrimination clauses go into affect for 2014 (from what I can find - see link above).

Does this mean we should see (and/or be able to fight) insurance programs removing the "no sex transformations" exclusions?

What about for those of us who are government workers (OPM)?

I'm excited about these new changes... could be great for us -- we're only missing the updated ENDA now!

[mrs izzy]

I think this is a good start and will help many, many GID with the medicare part of the law.

Izzy

[Renee]

I think this is a good start and will help many, many GID with the medicare part of the law.

Izzy

In my state(NC), they voted not to expand medicare to the 133 percent. They shouldn't have left that part up to the states.  I think I'm going to just see what the actual cost of the penalty is going to be compared to buying into one of the "great plans" they have lined up for us.

[KabitTarah]

I'm actually feeling pretty awesome today because of this. It should directly affect my insurance options for the new year... right before I go on HRT!! I'm sooo excited. I may even be able to afford the surgeries down the line with this.

I'm not medicare, but OPM options are also government funded... so should be covered by the law.

Now I just have to wait until those "shoulds" go away...

[Robin Mack]

I'm actually feeling pretty awesome today because of this. It should directly affect my insurance options for the new year... right before I go on HRT!! I'm sooo excited. I may even be able to afford the surgeries down the line with this.

I'm not medicare, but OPM options are also government funded... so should be covered by the law.

Now I just have to wait until those "shoulds" go away...

I'm with you, sis!  I'll be starting therapy at the same time and am shopping around through the federal exchange right now (since Oklahoma opted out).  Some decent deals out there, better coverage than they were offering this self-employed girl before at lower prices... and it looks like at least HRT will be covered, to boot!  🙂

I'm generally very healthy, so it's nice to know that some of my premiums will be spent on me. 😉

[KabitTarah]

I'm with you, sis!  I'll be starting therapy at the same time and am shopping around through the federal exchange right now (since Oklahoma opted out).  Some decent deals out there, better coverage than they were offering this self-employed girl before at lower prices... and it looks like at least HRT will be covered, to boot!  🙂

I'm generally very healthy, so it's nice to know that some of my premiums will be spent on me. 😉

I've gotten some use out of mine (for normal cis stuff)... right now, FEP Blue is about the best thing going for therapy costs! $25 copay and unlimited visits.

Once they take off that "no sex transformations" thing (a phrase that directly discriminates against us and costs practically nothing) we'll be all set!!

[tgchar21]

In my state(NC), they voted not to expand medicare to the 133 percent. They shouldn't have left that part up to the states.  I think I'm going to just see what the actual cost of the penalty is going to be compared to buying into one of the "great plans" they have lined up for us.

It's because of how the Supreme Court ruled that allows states to "opt out" of the Medicaid expansion - under the law as originally written if a state refused to expand they'd lose all of their Medicaid funding; now they can lose only the additional money provided under the ACA.

Here's the word from the official site on how much the "penalty" will be (you'll have to scroll down a bit).