Gender Reassignment?

Question

I'm watching Dr. Phil right now and it's about a girl who has lived her whole life feeling like a boy inside. She wants to have gender reassignment surgery to allow her outsides to match her insides. Also on The L Word, Moira transitions to Max... anyway, my point is that there are people out there who are really born feeling they are in the wrong body! Just like people are born gay... And I do believe that happens. More and more, gender identity is being brought into public debate. Should medical insurance cover the cost of gender reassignment? and with what pre-requisites? In my opinion it should. Our country is founded on the 'pursuit of happiness' does that quote apply here? I am interested to see what everybody thinks...

Answer 1

Very interesting question. I'm also very sympathetic to transsexuals, and I want them to be able to have done whatever they need to, particularly since most of them fall to unsafe and psychologically damaging routes to earn the money for their surgeries- prostitution and pornography are very big for male to female transsexuals, as many men are willing to pay to watch or be with them.

On the other hand, I'm a libertarian in my political beliefs, and I don't think that any medical insurance should be forced to cover the cost of gender reassignment. I think that they should certainly all have the option, and I'd gladly use the insurance that provided that, but I strongly believe in allowing companies to offer whatever package they want, whether or not it's trans-friendly. I wish they all would, but I understand why they might not want to, and I can particularly understand why customers wouldn't want the higher premiums of an insurance company that did cover the cost of gender reassignment. If any compay were to offer it, the pre-requisites, I think, should be the same as they are now: at least a year of living in the gender that you want to transition to, a lengthy, mandatory gender counseling to make sure you are, indeed, gender dysphoric and not at all confused on what you want. The people who can undergo those things- and all the waiting- definitely deserve the hormones and surgery.

As for the whole 'pursuit of happiness' idea . . . well, you've got to remember that one's pursuit of happiness is allowed and encouraged only inasmuch as it doesn't interfere in the rights of anyone else, and by forcing insurance companies to cover gender reassignment costs, you're taking away their right as a private company to offer whatever they want. I think, morally, medical insurance should cover it. But I respect their right to not.

So that's my opinion on it.

Answer 2

I believe medical insurance should cover gender reassignment, simply because it's not just a question of happiness. Transsexualism, like Homosexuality has been found to be a structural difference in the brain. Typically, for example, the Hypothalamus of a transsexual who is born male but identifies as female will be closer to that of a genetic female than that of a genetic male. Unfortunately, this can only be determined by autopsy, so it's not exactly a good tool for diagnosis.

Treatment is already subject to a set of guidelines set out by Dr Harry Benjamin. These guidelines are very strict, requiring care by a psychologist, a "real life test" of living as your chosen gender for a period, etc. I'd say that these would be good prerequisites.

Answer 3

- Yes I feel medical insurance should cover gender reassignment surger, because gender reassignment is not a cosmetic issue and there's alot of medical and psychological factors that are put into consideration before a person must get this operation. There is alot of psychological techniques and therapies an individual must go through before they recieve this operation

A person who wants to change their appearance is not held up to the same extensive pre-requisites of a person who wants a gender reassignment surgery.

Answer 4

convinced i believe what you're declaring is real.. i have had a communicate with a transgender FtM in a interview type of way.. and that i have seen the snap shots of operations of sex move and that is somewhat a downside... initially the surgical procedures are alot a lot less for MtF. higher and decrease surgical operation.. the hormones might want to do alot of the artwork already.. and they don't in many cases decrease the more effective decrease tissus they opposite them and opposite the penis in a thanks to make the "vagina" even though it somewhat serves as a vagina even regardless of the reality that the fellow can't carry toddlers... yet FtM will want an operation or maybe more effective than one for the better component of the body and there is diverse ones to make your ideas up on from, and there is the decrease section which desires on the least from 6 to 9 operations and convinced, doing the organic way which ability with the hormones the clitoris enlarges and then with an operation each thing is linked to the veins.. that could want to get each thing to workout high-quality yet for sure there are exceptions.. yet i understand some FtMs who's stated the do not care about the length.. it truly is the in basic terms right concern they are doing those operations for..

Answer 5

I think you posed a wonderful question in a clear and respectful manner. However I do not think I should have to pay for someones Happiness because they don't agree with the body they were born with. Especially if they still find they are not happy after the extensive and expensive surgery.

Answer 6

If someone is born a female, how can they feel that they are a boy inside, since they have no experience being male? Same goes for men who think they are female inside. Without rigorous mental and physical examination, do we allow someone to make radical, life-altering changes to their bodies? From personal experience, I know that environment can play a huge role in forming our self-image view, even at very young ages. I knew that being a girl was very different than being a boy when I was only four years old. I know that it altered my world view, even though that view was very limited. If these views are not corrected, they will alter the person's self image to the point that they feel 'wrong'. So, I would say that this view of being a different gender is likely a false self image problem and not a gender dysphoria problem.

Answer 7

You can get gender reassignment treatment on the NHS in the UK, I think.

Answer 8

I don't have a problem with people swithing their sex or trying to be happy BUT on the other hand, I'm not sure that I want to pay higher insurance premium to pay for their happiness - sure for their health but happiness?

Answer 9

.... for them this is merely a cosmetic problem and they would actually have to shell out a little of that money instead of paying all of the companies CEO s millons..... it seems like considering the emotional, physical, and physiological effects these things can cause the people living with this that that would be required, but considering what most people have to go through just to get them to pay on little things like ear infections, colds, ect....getting them to pay on something like that would take an act of GOD!

Answer 10

religiously i dont support it. I think we sholud be preaching more about self acceptance and appreciation rather than gender reassignment.