insurance

The City of Seattle has kicked off its annual Open Enrollment period for City employees, with a key change to employees’ health plans. Starting on January 1, 2012, transgender health care procedures will be included in all plans.

The addition occurred thanks to the work of five of Seattle’s volunteer commissions: the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Commission, Commission for People with disAbilities, Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board, Human Rights Commission, and Women’s Commission. All five groups contacted City Council and the City’s Personnel Department on March 23 to point out extensive exclusion clauses for medical care for transgender people. The exclusions included treatments, medications and services for gender affirming surgeries and procedures.

"Transgender treatments are not cosmetic; they are medically necessary," said Tiffany Nelson and Eleazar Juárez-Díaz, Co-Chairs of the Seattle LGBT Commission. "We applaud the City of Seattle for helping to lead the way for the country on this important equity issue.” 

Broad transgender exclusions create a ripple effect for individuals’ health care. Once a person becomes identified as transgender, insurance companies often deny other basic medical and psychological care.

“We were excited and proud to work with the LGBT, Women’s, Human Rights and Immigrant and Refugee Commissions on this issue,” said Erica Sekins and Patt Copeland, Co-Chairs of the Commission for People with disAbilities.