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   Joscelyn Transpiring (joscelyntransient@chaosfem.tw)'s status on Sunday, 05-Jan-2025 17:01:18 JST Joscelyn Transpiring

   I suspect a lot of US trans folks who started transitioning in the last decade don't realize how big the Affordable Care Act has been in our access to care.

   Almost no insurance companies were covering HRT or other care before the ACA - it was out of pocket or treated as a pre-existing condition, potentially blocking us from all medical care. I don't know that we would have the lively and open trans community today if it wasn't for that. It's also the reason people can access it for cheaper in other settings and why Medicare/Medicaid covers it.

   I know it seems stupid, but we might need to do what we can to muster a defense of the ACA (which I hated when it passed because I was advocating for single payer, universal healthcare). It might be one of the most important levers and wedges against efforts to destroy our ability to embody ourselves in the next 4 years.

   #trans #transgender #queer

   • Adrianna Tan and Rich Felker repeated this.
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     Joscelyn Transpiring (joscelyntransient@chaosfem.tw)'s status on Sunday, 05-Jan-2025 17:17:58 JST Joscelyn Transpiring

     in reply to

     For context, I work for a trans-serving nonprofit that advocates for us in insurance and healthcare settings. We have actually been the ones that pushed insurance companies in the US to start covering many different kinds of gender-affirming healthcare for adults and minors. And one of our biggest pieces of leverage was being to say: Hey, you all aren't in compliance with the law and we'll report you if you aren't covering the care you are required to.

     Let's be prepared to fight and not cede ground on this. It's something we've come to take for granted and a major target this year.

     Rich Felker repeated this.
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     Joscelyn Transpiring (joscelyntransient@chaosfem.tw)'s status on Sunday, 05-Jan-2025 17:32:30 JST Joscelyn Transpiring

     in reply to

     And yes, there are better ways to do all of this and I want to see them built. I am an anarchist and have been involved in grassroots mutual aid around healthcare access too, and long-term would prefer that.

     But if the ACA gets overturned, almost all of us, even in "safe" states, will lose access overnight to almost all gender-affirming care. The harm-reduction is just too damn important.

     Rich Felker repeated this.
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     Wendy 🏳️‍⚧️ (wendy@chaosfem.tw)'s status on Sunday, 05-Jan-2025 17:32:39 JST Wendy 🏳️‍⚧️

     in reply to

     @JoscelynTransient
     A new law went into effect today in Minnesota that requires gender affirming care to be covered.

     Wherever possible, this needs to be done.