Yale mulls paying for students’ sex change operations

Yale is reviewing the logistics of adopting similar policies to Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard and Brown in paying for students’ sex reassignment surgeries.

Yale healthcare coverage does not currently cover the surgery for students, but coverage was extended to faculty and staff at the managerial and professional levels in 2011 and to the unionized workforce last month, Yale Daily News reports.

President of the Resource Alliance for Gender Equity Gabriel Murchison said the lack of coverage may make transgender and gender nonconforming students feel unwelcome.

“The policy sends a message to trans and gender nonconforming students that our concerns are not a priority, not to mention its effect on students who need this care and rely on the Yale Health Plan for their health coverage,” Murchison said.

Director of University Health Services Dr. Paul Genecin said there has been an increasing interest in these types of surgeries. He said Yale currently offers coverage for endocrine hormonal treatments and mental health services for students with gender identity disorder, Yale Daily News reports.

Students and nonstudents are working with the school administration on getting increased coverage on sex reassignment surgeries for students.

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