How does Kaiser discriminate against trans people?
Kaiser and many major healthcare providers discriminate against transgender people by refusing to cover medically necessary treatment sought by patients and recommended by doctors. Every health care provider has a list of exclusions: products and services they will not cover under any circumstances. Kaiser includes healthcare needs of transgender people on this list. See Kaiser’s list of exclusions which states they will not cover, “transgender surgery.”
What is the solution?
We call on Kaiser to stop discriminating against transgender people by removing transgender surgery from their list of exclusions and provide all medically necessary treatment sought by their transgender patients and recommended by their doctors.
I thought Kaiser was great for the LGBT community?
Kaiser has instituted important policies that serve the LGBT community. Many of Kaiser’s individual doctors, nurses and staff are very committed to the LGBT community. Kaiser has even won awards for their commitment to diversity.
Yet Kaiser continues to discriminate against transgender people.
How can this be true, Kaiser covered my surgery or hormone therapy?
Kaiser has demonstrated an understanding of trans identity and healthcare by covering hormone therapy. It is all the more problematic that in spite of this they continue to maintain trans exclusions in all their policies and not cover surgeries as proscribed by doctors and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). Some individual providers have figured out ways to circumvent Kaiser’s discriminatory practices in order to get their patients’ surgery’s covered. While this is commendable, nobody should have to do this. All medically necessary treatment should be covered.
Why are you targeting health insurance companies instead of employers who pay for their employees insurance?
It took workers at the City of Berkeley years to get Kaiser to offer them a trans inclusive plan even after the city council voted to offer one. To go employer by employer is slow and incomplete, that is why the labor movement historically found that it was necessary to push for changes on an institutional level. For example, many more people benefit when you pass a minimum wage law for a city than if you fought for wage standards one company at a time.
I have Kaiser insurance, where can I find Trans friendly provider?
You can find a list of Kaiser trans friendly providers in Oakland and the East Bay:
http://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/facilities/region/eastbay/area_master/departments/transgender.jsp
Where can I learn more about this issue?
You can learn more about our campaign at www.sfprideatwork.org. You can read the Transgender Law Center’s Recommendations for Trans Healthcare here: http://www.transgenderlaw.org/resources/tlchealth.htm
How can I support this campaign?
Please pick of the phone today and call Kaiser Member Services. Tell them to end the ban against treating trans people in all their plans!
Call 1-800-464-4000
Mon-Fri 7am – 7pm
Sat & Sun 7am – 3pm
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