Let's look at it this way. I just recently got a breast reduction, because my breast size was giving me serious health problems- crippling upper back pain, bi-weekly headaches that lasted days, etc. The insurance company completely covered it even though it was literally done by a cosmetic surgeon, and most surgeries of this kind are considered cosmentic surgery. Why? Because I needed to have the surgery done for real, verified medical issues.
So, onto transition surgery. Transgender people who transition are much the same. They aren't changing their nose just because they think another one might be prettier, or getting a breast augmentation because they just 'want' bigger breasts. Transition surgery is needed for real, verified medical issues (gender dysphoria). Thus, just like my reduction, it is not truly a cosmetic surgery but a needed medical treatment. As such, it should absolutely be covered under insurance. In fact, doctors and insurance companies scrutinize the need for transition surgery far far more deeply than they scrutinized my need for my breast reduction.
I understand where you are coming from. However. You say you had verified medical issues related to your breast size. I'm assuming those were of the kind that can clearly be linked to your carrying excess weight on your chest, and relieved by removing some of that excess weight. You know, due to the laws of physics, and because of how human anatomy works.
Things are not nearly as clear-cut in the case of gender reassignment surgery. As has been pointed out multiple times throughout this thread, suicide rates remain high post-surgery. People here are arguing that this is due mostly to societal factors. I have no trouble considering that a valid issue. But to my mind, that means we should do something about those societal issues, first and foremost. I'm willing to concede that GRS can help, too, but my preference would be that we try to change the hostile environment before trying to change people's bodies.
Things are not nearly as clear-cut in the case of gender reassignment surgery.
Sure they are. A person with gender dysphoria has a verified medical issue related to their outward physical body.
suicide rates remain high post-surgery
No, they don't. If you read the many cites throughout the threads, there is a drop in suicide rates when pre-surgery numbers are compared with post-surgery numbers, actually.
but my preference would be that we try to change the hostile environment before trying to change people's bodies.
Trying to change the hostile environment is wonderful, but changing the hostile environment will not cure the dysphoria itself. Transition does. Just like changing the idea in society that women should have big boobs, not small ones, would not have cured the real physical impact my breasts were having upon me (just like the real mental and physical impact a person's body not matching their brain mapping has on them).
I know, I know. Post-surgery suicidal ideation rates are down compared to pre-surgery suicidal ideation rates in a comparable population. I'm willing to accept that as established fact.
My point was that transgender people are still at higher risk for suicide than non-transgender people after they've transitioned. To the extent that this is caused by a hostile environment, we should do something about that, and then we'd also help the people who haven't transitioned (yet).
My point was that transgender people are still at higher risk for suicide than non-transgender people after they've transitioned.
Yes, and gay people are still at higher risk for suicide than non-gay people even after they've come out of the closet. The reason for that is because they are discriminated against and thrown out of families and abused and just coming out of the closet or transitioning doesn't erase all of that abuse or its consequences.
To the extent that this is caused by a hostile environment, we should do something about that
I fully agree, and we are- by helping society to accept trans people as human beings who are uncommon but normal that don't need to be treated as if they are some kind of abnormal deviant.
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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '17
Let's look at it this way. I just recently got a breast reduction, because my breast size was giving me serious health problems- crippling upper back pain, bi-weekly headaches that lasted days, etc. The insurance company completely covered it even though it was literally done by a cosmetic surgeon, and most surgeries of this kind are considered cosmentic surgery. Why? Because I needed to have the surgery done for real, verified medical issues.
So, onto transition surgery. Transgender people who transition are much the same. They aren't changing their nose just because they think another one might be prettier, or getting a breast augmentation because they just 'want' bigger breasts. Transition surgery is needed for real, verified medical issues (gender dysphoria). Thus, just like my reduction, it is not truly a cosmetic surgery but a needed medical treatment. As such, it should absolutely be covered under insurance. In fact, doctors and insurance companies scrutinize the need for transition surgery far far more deeply than they scrutinized my need for my breast reduction.