dealing with high cost of GRS (Gender Reassignment Surgery)

[emmicd]

For most of us transgender girls surgery is something we give consideration to but for some it is cost prohibitive. how do transgender girls deal with the disappointment of not being able to do the surgery because of financial reasons? how do they cope and move forward if they are not complete in their male to female transition?

[Emma Beth]

I am assuming that you are referring to those that feel they need that particular step. Simply because there are some out there that feel they have completed their transition without SRS/GRS.

I can't say for me because I'm too early to think about that at the moment. However, as I was reminded by my Dad yesterday, always hope for the best and expect the worst.

With that in mind, I am assuming that I will need SRS and I am taking each step as I get there and planning for my future steps as best I can.

I do feel fortunate in that I feel that I can plan for it, because I know there are a lot of ladies out there that are having a very hard time just getting by on the basics of living, and with this Holiday season having kicked off I have everyone of them in my prayers and thoughts.

[Angela Campbell]

some of us do whatever we have to do to get it done. Where there is a need there is a way.

[Jorja]

Some work three and four jobs to earn the money. Some take out a loan against their 401k. Some take out a second mortgage against their house. Some sell their bodies on the street. Some get involved in the porn industry to earn the money. Some move to other countries and become residents then pursue their national health care system. Some manage to find a Sugar Daddy that will pay for it (not my luck). Where there is a will, there is a way.

[Veronica_Jean]

I feel it is like many other disappointments we face all the time and accept the realty for now, and plan for later.

Like many others have pointed out, when there is a will there is a way. But some of those may not be the way for you. Companies are slowly beginning to adopt GRS as part of their covered care, so that may help. Put into place a plan you can live with and keep to it. That should make small steps achievable and over the long haul you will get there.

While you wait, just think of those parts as what you wold rather thy become, instead of what they currently are. Your mind can do amazing things if you let it.

Veronica

[I Am Paula]

My retirement fund. It means less vacations later, and maybe driving a car a few years more than usual.

[whowhatwhen]

Paula you get it for free though :P
I wonder if they still only cover the one guy in Montreal, that kinda bugs me.

[arbon]

I used to think I would be alright without it but that has shifted for me this year and I really feel it is important and needed for me to have it now. So extra jobs - same day job and at night deliver pizza and weekends doing some personal assistant work for a woman that is writing a book. Aiming for September to have enough money raised for a trip to Thailand.

[I Am Paula]

Whowhatwhen. Yes, Dr. Brassard is still the only one doing Gov. funded SRS. The waiting list got as short as four years, then two more provinces started covering it, and the waiting list is...Oh, well I'll be dead then. There is talk at CAMH of allowing patients to go to Thailand on the provinces dime, but as far as I know, it hasn't happened yet. I'm 56. If I did not go out of pocket, I'd probably never get the problem fixed. If I was much younger, I would certainly wait out the list.

[Kathryn Martin]

weird, I phoned in November and got a spot in May with Brassard. No waiting list.

[Cheyenne Skye]

Don't forget, even if insurance covers surgery, you will still have to pay your deductible and copay. Which for me is still a few thousand. And since my divorce, I can barely make ends meet. So even if I decide I want surgery, I don't have the funds for even my deductible. I'm not sure what else I'm willing to do to get the money.

[I Am Paula]

Kathryn- i'm assuming you mean cash. I too got a date for May. It's the provinces oking it that is so far behind.

[whowhatwhen]

I'm kinda hoping for new players to come on the scene or allow coverage for international surgeons.
Having only 1 guy in the country do it is kinda like that episode of Beavis and Butt-head where they sell candy to each other back and forth using the same dollar bill.

[Promethea]

Not all of us live on the US, and more countries seem to be covering SRS under UHC.

I used to think I didn't need HRT or surgeries, but that has been changing, and I'm not that sure anymore. I don't see myself being able to afford those treatments in the near future, but I could easily go back to my home country or migrate to most other countries with UHC, so I'm not too stressed about it. When I'm ready to start I can just hop on a plane (well, for some countries at least it is that easy), so right now I'm just going through some other things I have to experience right now, and learning to stand firmer on my metaphorical heels.

I'm a bit scared about getting it back in Uruguay, though, as public healthcare there leaves a lot to be desired, and I'm afraid SRS by an underpaid overworked surgeon could look like female genital mutilation. Luckily my other home country is Sweden, so while I'm also looking at other possibilities I know I have that to fall back.

[Karen__Starr]

When I made the decision to move forward funds where not there so I sat down and mapped out a two year financial plan. It's surprising how much money one can save by doing without things such as eating out, buying a latte etc. For example, I use to spend about $7 each morning on a 20oz latte and a breakfast sandwich which by eating at home I save just over $200 per month. Did away with a $3 latte after work, $84 in savings. That totals roughly $3000.00 per-year which is a drop in the bucket thinking in regards to $25,000 for SRS but in two years I am down to $19,000. Quit smoking, $2,400 a year, now I am down to $17,000.The rest was saving money each month and making do with what I have. When this all started I had savings of (and I forget the exact amount) roughly $8,000. I now have more than enough and will be truthful that the remainder was scrimp and save watching every single penny. Of course this is part 1 of many i.e. breast enhancements $8000 to $10,000 etc. I am going to bite the bullet and do breast enhancements next December even if I need to take out a loan but do have plans to teach more classes next year to keep the bank loan low. I do wish that my insurance would cover something but they don't. One thing is my tax consultant did say she could do something for me when filing taxes for 2015, every little bit helps.

BTW I am currently in the process of 'name change' as of yesterday, yet another fee of just over $100, doing a two-week post in the courthouse then submit a couple of document, same day another post for two weeks, if all goes well from start to finish, four weeks time. My point for bringing this up is there are many moving parts to consider and best to get them all known as much as possible up front so not to be disappointed along the way.