Transgender Medical Care and the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP)
Cal’s Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) covers transgender-specific medical care.
What does the plan cover?
- Hormone therapy – this will be covered under the pharmacy benefit, subject to the $10,000 benefit cap (cumulative with all other prescription medications the student may be purchasing)
- Gender confirmation (reassignment) surgery – this will be covered, up to a lifetime maximum of $75,000. Since there are a limited number of providers in the Anthem Blue Cross network who perform this type of surgery, travel may be necessary and certain travel costs will be covered.
How does this work?
- For hormone therapy: Visit your Tang clinician (Physician or Nurse Practitioner) as usual and request hormone therapy as you would another type of prescription medication.
- For surgery: Visit your Tang clinician to get the process started. Requests for authorization for surgery must meet necessity criteria established by Anthem Blue Cross prior to authorization.
Where can I go for more information?
- Students are welcome to contact the UC Student Health Insurance Manager, at 642-5700, for more detailed explanations of these benefits and how the process works. The UC SHIP Manager will be able to guide you through the process, recommend providers and coordinate the authorizations with Tang and Anthem.
- Email Sarah Gamble for general questions about LGBTQQI-related issues at the Tang Center (sgamble@uhs.berkeley.edu).
- Dr. Anna Harte is a recommended provider for trans-specific health issues at Tang. Also, check the Out List for out medical providers, counseling staff, and allies at University Health Services: http://lavendercal.berkeley.edu/who_out.html.
Updated: November 2011
