Provincial government clarifies cost in website update
According to a recent update from the Saskatchewan government website, the provincial government will cover 100 per cent of the costs for gender reassignment surgery (GRS) within and outside the province, due to an increasing amount of people asking about the gender reassignment process.
Common procedures such as a hysterectomy and a mastectomy are provided within the province, but procedures that are more complex have to be done outside the province.
“…the provincial government will cover 100 per cent of the costs for gender reassignment surgery (GRS) within and outside the province…”
The individual wishing for the surgery has to get a recommendation from a “recognized authority” and prior approval from the Ministry of Health for coverage or therapy outside the province. Travel and accommodations are not covered.
According to Moose Jaw Pride, a gender and sexual diversity support group, GRS was very inaccessible previously because only 30 per cent was covered by the government. Laura Budd, the education coordinator of Moose Jaw Pride, said this has caused physical and emotional distress, sometimes resulting in suicidal thoughts, attempts, and even loss of life, according to a press release.
“In 2014, gender identity was added to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code.”
However, the health ministry’s director of insured services Jennifer Lindenbach told the Regina Leader Post that nothing has changed and the 30 per cent figure mentioned by Moose Jaw Pride was never policy. The government’s website was updated to clear up confusion about how gender reassignment surgeries are accessed and pre-approved.
According to the Regina Leader Post, Budd responded that, “The government is saying it was never 30 per cent, but they would only cover the surgical cost.” The government excluded additional costs such as medication and aftercare.
In 2014, gender identity was added to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. Additionally, the Vital Statistics Act of 2016 allows transgendered people to correct the gender marker on their identification, and gender-confirming surgery does not have to be mentioned.
“The time between initial contact with the family physician and to a surgical date for a vaginoplasty or phalloplasty is between 36 and 60 months.”
However, Moose Jaw Pride claims that the fight for progress for the trans community in Saskatchewan has not ended. There are still issues, most notably the long waiting lists for GRS. The time between initial contact with the family physician and to a surgical date for a vaginoplasty or phalloplasty is between 36 and 60 months.
After being referred to by medical professionals in Saskatchewan, patients need to go out of province to receive the proper surgery and treatment, according to Moose Jaw Pride. “Wait times to either authority, including Ontario’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) or Dr. Warneke at Edmonton’s Grey Nuns Community Hospital can be 20 months or more after a referral is made.
Qualifying patients are then referred to a GRS/SRS clinic such as ‘GRS Montreal’ leading to additional wait times.”
Photo courtesy of Tom Magliery via cc-by-nc-sa-2-0.