Kevin Knauss: Health, History, Travel, Insurance
Posts on equality: Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex topics, including HIV/AIDS and gay marriage and health care, insurance benefits.
In March of 2021, Blue Shield approved the plan member to receive gender dysphoria health care services from an out-of-network provider. Unfortunately, Blue Shield, according to the press release, inappropriately adjusted several of claims submitted by the health care professional. The payment dispute led to the health care professional suspending continued treatment until the claims dispute was resolved.
On top of the non-disruptive behavior, teachers have become utterly addle brained when trying to address the child by their chosen pronoun. Many teachers have broken down in tears being forced to say the plural ‘they’ when referring to a singular child. This cruelty to our teachers must stop and school districts are stepping up to put children back into the gender role chosen by society and stamp out the virus of progress.
The entire process of gender affirming surgery is intimate. Perhaps the most important relationship that you’ll want to secure is with your surgeon. Your health plan (Medi-Cal, Medicare, individual & family, employer group) will have a network of surgeons in the network. With luck, your preferred providers and surgeons will already be in the network of your health plan. Each health plan maintains an online list of providers for members to search. Healthcare networks are still learning and catching up with how to provide services to the transgender community.
The Department’s General Counsel Opinion Letter, issued pursuant to Insurance Code section 12921.9, was prepared in response to an inquiry from San Diego’s TransFamily Support Services regarding several denials of coverage for male chest surgery for patients under 18 years old who are transitioning from female to male. The Department determined that denying coverage for mastectomy and reconstruction of a male chest based solely on age is impermissible under state laws requiring coverage of reconstructive surgery. Health insurance companies must consider a patient’s specific clinical situation in determining medical necessity.
Blue Shield has added a gender identity category to align with the new state law even though health insurance companies are not required to do so. As an organization, Blue Shield recognizes our members whose gender identity is female, male or nonbinary. We want to honor any employee, and member their wish to be recorded as the gender they identify with.
An investigation by CDI found that certain insurers are denying coverage, or offering Life, Disability Income or Long-Term Care Insurance coverage under different conditions, to Truvada/PrEP users.
When I first read about the OutBüro Care+Plan, with its rainbow and transgender flags prominently displayed in the brochure, I was excited about a health program that focused on the unique health care needs of the LGBTQ+ community. I erroneously thought that the doctors and other providers would all be LGBTQ+ understanding and welcoming. Unfortunately, the more I read the brochure and saw the companies involved, I could see this was just the old discount plan gift wrapped in a rainbow flag.
Imagine for a moment that the day you born your religion, political party affiliation, and occupation were chosen for you. It was official. You could not change what had been entered into those fields on your birth certificate. You were designated a Roman Catholic, Democrat, Farmer. Your destiny and life had been chosen. The government would only recognize what was entered on the birth certificate.
When the baker decides to expand his business into the public market, he must abide by the rules of the road. He must get a business license. He must have his facilities inspected for cleanliness. He must not have discriminatory policies toward customers. The baker is no longer in a private market, but one that is regulated by the government for the benefit of the public.
One of the first changes consumers and agents will notice is under the information for household members. For the question of Sex (which should be gender), in addition to Male and Female, the drop down box will include Transgender: Male to Female and Transgender: Female to Male. While selecting the Sex is required, the Covered California application does not alert the consumer to the fact that rates are not based on gender AND you cannot be denied health insurance or receive a higher rate because you are transgender.
