Posted on 01/31/2007 10:26:25 AM PST by SmithL
In the past few years, however, following the model of San Francisco, some of the world's largest employers have begun covering surgical procedures, including gender-reassignment surgery, and a host of other related care.
When San Francisco became the first major American employer known to offer comprehensive coverage for gender transitions in 2001, some city officials feared that people who wanted to transition would flock here for work and bankrupt the city's insurance fund. But it turned out that covering transition surgeries and other treatment -- which can cost more than $50,000 -- cost the city relatively little, because there was no flood of claims.
General Motors, IBM, Eastman Kodak and Hallmark Cards, as well as the universities of Michigan and California, now include transition-related coverage in their standard employee benefits.
"We took a look at it, the cost was negligible and we said it was the right thing to do," said David Kaffnoff, a spokesman for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y. "We don't sit here in any judgment on how a person chooses to self-identify."
Company officials compared transition benefits with benefits workers already enjoyed -- like hormone replacement for menopausal women or reconstructive surgery for people disfigured in an accident -- and granted the request, Kaffnoff said.
The surgeries can be profoundly important for transgender people, but the vast majority of employers still don't cover them.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Just from a business standpoint - GM and EK are at the brink of bankruptcy - yet they still have this benefit?
Is that before or after?
As large companies expand health benefits for transgender employees, few civil rights organizations for the gay, lesbian and bisexual community have followed their lead.
Representatives of several gay rights groups said they have too few employees to negotiate for transition-related benefits and that the benefits would significantly increase the costs of their insurance premiums.
Still, two organizations -- the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Lesbian Rights -- do pay whatever expenses are incurred by transitioning employees.
"I've seen a shift, nearly unanimous consensus, among medical providers that sex reassignment and hormones are necessary for transgender people," said Shannon Minter, legal director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, a San Francisco organization with 21 employees and a $3.2 million budget. . . .
Well....that's sooo nice to know.....thanks for the post, but, makes me wonder why corporate top dogs strive so hard to be PC and perverted??
after
Your employees are crazy and you're going to pay for it.
We have fools in DC screaming about a health care crisis and unaffordable, rising cost insurance on one hand and on the other we have the same celebrating the fact that unnecessary benefits like an addadicktuhme surgical procedures will be paid out.
Wierd
Is ADDADICKTOME really a keyword?
Our former maid at work had a husband who became a woman. They were still married and she was mystified why her daughter would not bring their 3 year old granddaughter over to visit.
I finally told her one day that explaining that grandpa was now grandma might be a little confusing for a 3 year old.
-shaking head-
" why corporate top dogs strive so hard to be PC and perverted??"
MONEY, that's why. Don't want to "offend" the customer. Shareholders need to speak up about this idiocy!
If he's going male to female he needs a friend to sit him down and say, dude, you look like a guy in a dress. If he's going the other way. congratulations on getting the male pattern baldness part down.
Sounds like too little too late.
-Unless it is to certify them whacked as a precondition.(Images of a big hairy longshoreman saying, "I wanna be a *GIRLIE*")*
* Just WAITING for the Mountie Skit any moment!
Hmm... if gender reassignment surgery or sex transition surgery is covered by my health benefits, can I opt for the 'John Holmes' procedure?
and yet I cannot get my insurance co (blue cross and blue shield) to pay for a freaking yearly obgyn physical!
Guess they would if I had a sex change operation!
Maybe I don't get it, but it seems like the ultimate in selfish, narcissistic behavior.
LOL
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