Financing Gender Reassignment Surgery

Gender or sexual reassignment surgery is costly. As of October 2009, most insurance companies do not consider the surgery to be "medically necessary" and do not cover such procedures. With proper research and planning, financing the many different surgeries and treatments involved in gender reassignment is possible.

Plan

• Talk to your doctor or another health care provider you trust to develop a surgery plan. A well-tailored plan helps you accurately calculate a budget that allows you to match your body to your internal feelings of sex and gender. There are three main surgery options for female to male (FTM) and four for male to female (MTF) patients.

Research Surgery Costs

• Contact your surgeon's patient accounts department to find out the costs of each surgery, any hospital time required along with cost, medications recommended and estimated recuperation time (loss of work income). Make sure that you have a complete and accurate total cost. Inquire if any follow-up surgeries or visits may be necessary.

  Talk with people who have undergone the procedure to find out if the surgeon's prices are reasonable. You may learn of a cheaper or more effective method used by another doctor.

  Determine a payment plan with your medical provider. You may be able to make monthly payments rather than pay a flat fee.

Finance Surgery

• Evaluate your personal finances. You may have money in a savings or checking account to pay for a portion of the surgery. Borrow money from a bank or other lending institution if you have sufficient credit. Apply for grants from private foundations or donors if you cannot afford to pay on your own. If you have a 401(k) plan, you can withdraw funds, but approach this cautiously, as you will incur a hefty tax penalty for early withdrawal.