Leelah Alcorn’s poignant suicide note expressed a doubt that ‘it gets better,’ but what Medicare just did for transgender seniors makes it clear that times, and acceptance, are changing. In a decision that’s being called a major step ahead for transgender rights, the government insurance program will now cover gender reassignment surgeries.
According to NBC News, the credit for the change goes to Denee Mallon, age 74. Denee challenged a ban that had been in place since 1981, due to old medical recommendations that said there hadn’t been enough long-term studies to consider the surgery anything but experimental.
Mallon, who is an army vet and a former police forensics investigator, was diagnosed with gender identity disorder — the medical term for not identifying with one’s birth sex. In May, she told the New York Times she had wanted the surgery since she was 11 years old, when she first learned that it existed.
Though Mallon’s case took 18 months to complete, Medicare never fought against the change, saying that newer scientific evidence was sufficient, and agreeing to cover the procedure and related hormone therapy for transgender seniors.
The ACLU spoke of the lawsuit when it was initiated, in April 2013. The organization joined others in suing on Mallon’s behalf, saying that the therapies are now recognized as a safe, effective, appropriate choice for individuals who seek it.
“The American Medical Association, the Endocrine Society, and the American Psychological Association all support these treatments for transgender patients. These procedures have been performed for decades and are proven to be safe and effective.
The end of Mallon’s fight signals a drastic change in the last half-decade, not only in medical and scientific opinion, but in public opinion, regarding gender reassignment surgeries. More, it signifies a new chance for transgender seniors who, like Mallon, have long hoped for gender reassignment therapy, but have been denied it due to financial or other circumstances.
[photo credit: ericwagner
It Gets Better? For Transgender Seniors On Medicare, It Just Did
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