Posted on 05/31/2014 1:41:50 AM PDT by kingattax
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Transgender people receiving Medicare may no longer be automatically denied coverage for sex reassignment surgeries, a U.S. Department of Health and Services review board ruled Friday in a groundbreaking decision that recognizes the procedures as a medically necessary and effective treatment for individuals who do not identify with their biological sex.
Ruling in favor of a 74-year-old Army veteran whose request to have Medicare pay for her genital reconstruction was denied two years ago, the agency's Departmental Appeals Board ruled that a three-decade-old HHS rule excluding such surgeries from the procedures covered by the national health program for the elderly and disabled was unjustified.
"Sometimes I am asked aren't I too old to have surgery. My answer is how old is too old?" the veteran, Denee Mallon, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, said in an email interview before the board issued its decision. "When people ask if I am too old, it feels like they are implying that it's a 'waste of money' to operate at my age.
But I could have an active life ahead of me for another 20 years. And I want to spend those years in congruence and not distress."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Madame Dufarge (67) and I (70) have decided to change places after 47 years of marriage.
We’ll let you know how the next 47 work out...
One plus is between the two of you, all the necessary parts are in house.
It really doesn’t huh? Hard to believe that people who’ve been one sex or the other their whole lives would want to change it in their older age. Even harder to believe that the stupid government would opt to pay for the elective procedure.
I’m reminded of a letter my dermatologist wrote years ago to the insurance company on my behalf regarding it being beneficial to my rosacea that I get light therapy treatments. Denied of course. Even upon appeal. So I suffered for YEARS with flushed, burning, scaly facial skin on nose and inner cheek areas. The treatments did become affordable but by that time the issue was under control with a prescribed skin supplement.
I can’t believe that just because a disorder/disease happens to be external, therefor affecting one’s appearance, they deem it “cosmetic.”
My dad can’t get a hearing aid. What about HIS quality of life? But they’ll pay for someone to have their genitals reconfigured/mutilated so they can be the opposite of what mother nature made them. I just don’t get it. For that matter some old lady whose boobs have shrunk and who always felt like a busty female on the “inside” should be able to get implants.
She says I'm a cheap Greek, I prefer the term economical.
If it takes you 65 years to finally realize that you have been going into the wrong restroom all these years it’s not a sex change operation that is needed —
Elective surgery is covered now? Yippee! I want a tummy tuck!!
So a 75-year-old patient gets turned down for a hip replacement, but not for a sex change?
Next thing you know, they will be pulling people out of coffins and performing sex-changes posthumously.
LOL. no anesthesia either, right ?
none... well, maybe a mallet to the head, but that's it
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