Rainbow Law Center

MCGE/Rainbow Law Center decries Blue Cross/Blue Shield policy change

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                   
March 25, 2009

DETROIT -- The Michigan Coalition for Gender Equality expressed deep disappointment today regarding changes to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) policies that will eliminate reimbursements for gender reassignment surgeries for new customers. This change was approved by Michigan’s Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation without any opportunity for public comment or input. 

The Michigan Coalition for Gender Equality (MCGE) includes Affirmations, American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Michigan Equality, Michigan Project for Informed Public Policy, Transgender Detroit, Triangle Foundation, the Rainbow Law Center, and the National Association of Social Workers’ Michigan Chapter.  

“We are concerned that BCBSM underestimates the profound impact of these medically necessary procedures,” said Andre Wilson of MCGE. “Gender reassignment surgeries can be a critical part of the transition process and these new exclusions will place many transgender individuals and their families at real risk.”   

The American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, and World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) have called for coverage by public and private insurers of all medically necessary procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria or transsexualism, including gender reassignment surgeries. Treatment delays or denials for such services often lead to more serious and expensive health problems, states the AMA, which has also called exclusions of transgender-related services discriminatory. WPATH affirms that gender reassignment surgeries are “cost-effective, not cost-prohibitive” and can be “essential to achieving well-being for the transsexual patient.”

“Many people are unaware of the distress accompanying gender dysphoria and of the damage caused by insurance exclusions,” said Maxine Thome Executive Director of NASW Michigan. “Research shows the effectiveness of treatment, and Social Workers see the difference firsthand.  Access to services brings dramatic improvements in health status, as well as increased employability and social acceptance.” 

MCGE members learned of the BCBSM changes from the Detroit Free Press which reported, “The changes do not affect 170,000 customers already in individual Blue Cross plans or with Blue Cross insurance through their employer. But they will affect thousands losing insurance as employers drop coverage or lay off staff.” 

“Excluding medically necessary gender reassignment surgeries endangers patients' health which strains the entire health care system, driving costs up for everyone,” said Jay Kaplan of the ACLU of Michigan.  “We urge both BCBSM and the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation to reconsider this benefit change.” 

Lobby For 2nd Parent Adoption!

Please contact your state representative and ask them to support HB 4131 (the "Second Parent Adoption Bill".)  Representative Alma Wheeler-Smith, Democrat from Ypsilanti Township, has introduced the Second Parent Adoption Bill for the 2009-2010 legislative session. The bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary committee. A public hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2009.   

 

Michigan courts have been largely unwilling to allow two unmarried people to jointly adopt a child.  In practical terms this means that children born to, or adopted by, gay and lesbian parents can only have one legal parent. Such an unjust arrangement has far reaching consequences if the legal parent dies or the couple breaks up.  The Second Parent Adoption Bill will allow every such child in the state of Michigan to have two legal parents.

 

Below is list of House Judiciary Committee members:   

 

Mark S. Meadows (D), Committee Chair, 69th District

• Ellen Cogen Lipton (D), Majority Vice-Chair, 27th District
• Lisa Brown (D), 39th District
• Bob Constan (D), 16th District
• Marc R. Corriveau (D), 20th District
• Andy Coulouris (D), 95th District
• Andrew J. Kandrevas (D), 13th District
• Bettie Cook Scott (D), 3rd District
• Rebekah Warren (D), 53rd District
• Tonya Schuitmaker (R), Minority Vice-Chair, 80th District
• Justin Amash (R), 72nd District
• Joseph Haveman (R), 90th District
• Rick Jones (R), 71st District
• Eileen Kowall (R), 44th District
• Tory Rocca (R), 30th District

Please contact your state representative even if they are not on the House Judiciary Committee as we are confident that HB 4131 will pass out of committee and be sent to the full House for a vote.  It is extremely important that every state representative is contacted and asked to support this legislation.  To that end, please forward this request to your friends and family and ask them to contact their state representative as well.

 

You can find your representative by typing in your zip code at http://www.house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp

If you would like additional information about the Second Parent Adoption Bill please visit the Coalition for Adoption Rights Equality ("CARE") website at www.secondparentadoption.org.

Let your voices be heard

If you live in Kalamazoo, you have 10 days left in order to make your voice and your opinion known regarding the anti-discrimination ordinance for that city.

Here's how you can comment on the city of Kalamazoo's plan to propose a second anti-discrimination ordinance aimed at housing, public accommodation and employment protections for gays, lesbians and transgender individuals.

Phone: Call 552-6089. This is the city's temporary hotline for recorded comments on the issue. E-mail: Send comments to [email protected]. Mail: Send to Kalamazoo City Commission, 241 W. South St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007.

In addition to making general comments, responders are asked to answer these three questions:

1. A city of Kalamazoo ordinance currently prohibits discrimination regarding the sale or rental of property. How would an expansion of the ordinance to address discrimination in employment and public accommodation affect you?

2. The city of Kalamazoo ordinance addressing housing discrimination prohibits discrimination on the basis of a person's religion, race, color, national origin or sex. How would broadening the categories of protection to include a person's sexual orientation or gender identity specifically affect you?

3. Should these proposed expansions of the city ordinance addressing discrimination be approved by the city commission? Why or why not?

Public comment will be accepted until midnight March 26.

This article (http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/03/debate_over_kalamazoo_gayright.html) provides some background.