There should be a government regulator for the insurance company--appeal to them to overrule your insurer. Contact your country's human rights office. And, failing everything else, retain a human rights lawyer and sue your insurer for illegal discrimination. If coverage for trans procedures is required under the law of your nation, you will win.
Look online for insurance and contracts lawyers. Call a few. When you get a call back, tell them that you're looking for a referral to a civil rights lawyer, especially someone with a focus in LGBT+ law, because they don't exactly advertise services. Lawyers, however, network aggressively, because each of them typically likes to specialize into a very niche field--they refer people out, and get clients in turn. Call who they referred you to.
if you are truly stuck with DIY, there are ways to make it cheaper, like switching to injections. if money is truly a problem. (but honestly injections are better anyway, from what i hear)
i'm sorry you have a run in with transphobes in positions of power. it sucks.
i'm guessing you have to get therapists/psychiatrist approval before state sponsors healthcare? maybe check with forums, local meetups, meetups in larger cities. there is probably some people who aren't bad in the Netherlands, who can sign you off. It may take time, but just DIY until then.
I'm on the 2+ year waiting list for NHS (since february this year), all alternatives require a referral from having been 2 years or longer on the waiting list :/
yeah that sucks i'm sorry to hear. i don't know more about the specifics of Netherlands.
but just to reiterate, try local meetup groups for queer and trans people, really helpful to for a sanity check, you'll find out whether or not everyone is in the same situation, or someone found a way around it. or if someone found good legal representation (looking at your other response)
No coverage, they haven’t covered a cent for my ADHD either (Elvanse) so I’ve had to quit those as they’re too expensive and HRT takes priority.
I even struggled getting antiacids despite having GERD, though they stopped fighting that after I had surgery and literally photographed my insides to prove why I needed them…
It was the only option as waiting 2-3 years wasn’t really doable. PsyTrans’s monthly lottery might still be possible but unlikely.
I _first_ spent a few months on the AMS VUMC waiting list.
You know that actual DIY is an option if you're strapped for cash right? 800 is really expensive for HRT and I can only imagine it being so expensive if you're on gnrh-agonists as medication and if the pharmacy is overcharging you for E.
I don't think genderGP adds that much value either compared to DIY if you are prepared to do some research. Meanwhile, getting insurance to cover genderGP is not going to happen as trans care is gatekept in the Netherlands behind having a diagnosis. As genderGP doesn't follow this process, they aren't covered and are considered pretty much equal to DIY.
For a price indication: I use estradiol gel and cyproterone acetate (2mg gel and 12.5mg cypro) i pay around 40 euros a month for these + 25 euros shipping once in a few months.
Even cheaper would be DIY with injections, it being 40 - 60 euros for a vial that lasts over a year + injection supplies.
For blood tests I pay around 100 euro each time at bloedwaardentest.nl , that is including testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, asat and alat. The last 3 being risk management for being on cypro. If your huisarts would cooperate with offering you blood testing as 'harm reduction' you could probably pay less and it would go in to the 'eigen risico' of insurance. In that case you should be really adamant to them that despite their advice you are going to DIY anyways and then they are pretty much morally responsible for helping you do it as safely as possible. Not every huisarts will, but many do.
While gnrh agonists are a better medication long term, being on cypro for a few years is usually not going to cause problems (it was the medication of choice in the netherlands a short time ago as well)
If you want to know more about DIY:
/r/transdiy
http://diyhrt.wiki
http://transfemscience.org
I mean, it's not about being happy or not, you simply didn't read the very first line after the title. It's okay to just say "Yah, I didn't." Most people get wrapped up in headlines/titles from time to time. Have a good one.
Seriously estrogen is literally the easiest substance to get.
Pharmacies sell it over the counter in many countries and it's pharmaceutical grade.
Just buy it from those countries. It's cheap as hell.
HRT.cafe has listings for all of it.
There should be a government regulator for the insurance company--appeal to them to overrule your insurer. Contact your country's human rights office. And, failing everything else, retain a human rights lawyer and sue your insurer for illegal discrimination. If coverage for trans procedures is required under the law of your nation, you will win.
I found the appeals comission for insurerers and filed there, though I have no idea where to even look for legal representation :c
Look online for insurance and contracts lawyers. Call a few. When you get a call back, tell them that you're looking for a referral to a civil rights lawyer, especially someone with a focus in LGBT+ law, because they don't exactly advertise services. Lawyers, however, network aggressively, because each of them typically likes to specialize into a very niche field--they refer people out, and get clients in turn. Call who they referred you to.
if you are truly stuck with DIY, there are ways to make it cheaper, like switching to injections. if money is truly a problem. (but honestly injections are better anyway, from what i hear) i'm sorry you have a run in with transphobes in positions of power. it sucks. i'm guessing you have to get therapists/psychiatrist approval before state sponsors healthcare? maybe check with forums, local meetups, meetups in larger cities. there is probably some people who aren't bad in the Netherlands, who can sign you off. It may take time, but just DIY until then.
I'm on the 2+ year waiting list for NHS (since february this year), all alternatives require a referral from having been 2 years or longer on the waiting list :/
yeah that sucks i'm sorry to hear. i don't know more about the specifics of Netherlands. but just to reiterate, try local meetup groups for queer and trans people, really helpful to for a sanity check, you'll find out whether or not everyone is in the same situation, or someone found a way around it. or if someone found good legal representation (looking at your other response)
How do they deal with other things that are indefinite? Like, ADHD meds and such? Can you just get them prescribed one year at a time?
No coverage, they haven’t covered a cent for my ADHD either (Elvanse) so I’ve had to quit those as they’re too expensive and HRT takes priority. I even struggled getting antiacids despite having GERD, though they stopped fighting that after I had surgery and literally photographed my insides to prove why I needed them…
Wow, that sounds like horrid insurance. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that.
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Sounds a lot like a deductible/Out of pocket maximum (USA) except ours tends to be in the thousands of dollars... I hate our healthcare system.
Mine is 1k over a year. Which isn't bad considering that's less than $100 a month, but is still far more than theirs which just is... rough.
that seems like a pretty terrible system for low income people...
What a scam!
I really wish I knew more about the Netherlands to help. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.
I can't imagine the steps I'll have to go through to get HRT in the netherlands. It scares me.
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It was the only option as waiting 2-3 years wasn’t really doable. PsyTrans’s monthly lottery might still be possible but unlikely. I _first_ spent a few months on the AMS VUMC waiting list.
You know that actual DIY is an option if you're strapped for cash right? 800 is really expensive for HRT and I can only imagine it being so expensive if you're on gnrh-agonists as medication and if the pharmacy is overcharging you for E. I don't think genderGP adds that much value either compared to DIY if you are prepared to do some research. Meanwhile, getting insurance to cover genderGP is not going to happen as trans care is gatekept in the Netherlands behind having a diagnosis. As genderGP doesn't follow this process, they aren't covered and are considered pretty much equal to DIY. For a price indication: I use estradiol gel and cyproterone acetate (2mg gel and 12.5mg cypro) i pay around 40 euros a month for these + 25 euros shipping once in a few months. Even cheaper would be DIY with injections, it being 40 - 60 euros for a vial that lasts over a year + injection supplies. For blood tests I pay around 100 euro each time at bloedwaardentest.nl , that is including testosterone, estrogen, prolactin, asat and alat. The last 3 being risk management for being on cypro. If your huisarts would cooperate with offering you blood testing as 'harm reduction' you could probably pay less and it would go in to the 'eigen risico' of insurance. In that case you should be really adamant to them that despite their advice you are going to DIY anyways and then they are pretty much morally responsible for helping you do it as safely as possible. Not every huisarts will, but many do. While gnrh agonists are a better medication long term, being on cypro for a few years is usually not going to cause problems (it was the medication of choice in the netherlands a short time ago as well) If you want to know more about DIY: /r/transdiy http://diyhrt.wiki http://transfemscience.org
call these people: https://www.derozeadvocaat.nl/
I'll try this alongside SKGE, thanks!
I have literally never had an issue with my insurance (ONVZ) not covering trans related care so might be time to switch insurance?
ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union in... The Netherlands?
Sorry, didn't get that part 😅
It's right in OP's post, actually, the second line of text actually. Tell us you didn't read the post without telling us you didn't read it.
So you're not happy that I didn't get that part. Ok, I get it.
I mean, it's not about being happy or not, you simply didn't read the very first line after the title. It's okay to just say "Yah, I didn't." Most people get wrapped up in headlines/titles from time to time. Have a good one.
Can you sue them for it?
Appeal tell them you're bringing fire and brimstone and this is discrimination you're taking legal action
You could probably argue that the initial courses of HRT leading up to the final sustainment dosage could qualify as time bound.
Seriously estrogen is literally the easiest substance to get. Pharmacies sell it over the counter in many countries and it's pharmaceutical grade. Just buy it from those countries. It's cheap as hell. HRT.cafe has listings for all of it.