Sex-change surgery coverage unclear
Confusion reigned on Thursday after Moose Jaw Pride issued a release heralding a breakthrough in surgical coverage for gender reassignment and sex reassignment surgeries, but the government argued that changes being talked about had been in place all along.
A web post by Moose Jaw Pride said that, “recent updates to the Saskatchewan Health website confirm that gender reassignment or sex reassignment surgeries will now be covered up to 100% of surgical costs.
Up until September of this year only 30% of GRS/SRS surgical costs were eligible for reimbursement in Saskatchewan.”
However, the health ministry’s director of insured services Jennifer Lindenbach insisted the province merely added information to its website to clear up confusion around how surgeries are accessed and pre-approved. In essence, she said, nothing had changed, though Moose Jaw Pride seems unconvinced.
The government’s website now reads: “If residents wish to go outside of Saskatchewan for gender reassignment surgery, the Ministry of Health may cover up to 100 per cent of physician costs associated with some procedures, on the recommendation of a recognized authority.”
The government said the 30-percent figure quoted was never policy, but Laura Budd, education co-ordinator at Moose Jaw Pride said patients often find that only the cost of their actual surgery — normally undertaken in Montreal — is covered.
This has excluded things like medication and aftercare, and normally comes to 30 per cent of total cost, Budd said.
“The government is saying it was never 30 per cent, but they would only cover the surgical cost,” Budd said.
“The individual … did not know what their costs would be at the end of the day.
“Now they know what’s going to be covered, and what’s not going to be covered.”
One thing that does now appear to be set in stone is that patients will be able have costs directly billed to the province.
Previously, Budd said, many were finding themselves under enormous financial strain after paying upfront.