How do you prove it?

[ShawnaLeigh]

So I have been into requirements for some of the surgeries and I know one is living as your preferred gender full time for a year.  
How do you prove this?  
I could prob get 5 people right now that swears in a court of law I have been living like this for an entire year.  
There has got to be some way to show proof. 

[Charlize]

You will never face a trial so i wouldn't worry.  If you are asked which may well not even happen your word and presence should be enough.  

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Jackie C.]

I expect the only person to ask is going to be the insurance drone ... ahem, insurance adjuster ... trying to deny your claim because that's how insurance works. Without going into a long, boring story, my first job out of college was as an insurance adjuster. Your primary goal is to avoid paying out. If it's just a little bit questionable, you are to avoid paying out. If the client protests, ask for documentation. Sometimes we employed specialists to investigate, so either an appraiser or sometimes a PI. Usually just in the case of a big payout though. The other guiding principle is "Pay out the smallest amount you can to get the client to sign a waiver." It wasn't the worst job I've ever had, but it was a long way from the best. At worst I see him asking for a signed statement from your gender therapist.

 

I can't even imagine doing this job now. My biggest "problem" with the job is that I'm a total soft-touch. I changed departments because I had trouble with the whole, "Deny! Deny! Deny!" culture. If I tried to do the same thing today, I'd probably leave the office in tears. I think it would break me.

 

Hugs!

[Belle]

I love this forum! This is such helpful information. And you are all so sweet! ❤️

[Jani]

Generally to meet a need of WPATH for surgery you will need a couple letters of recommendation from therapists.  One would be your "longterm" counselor who would write this into their letter.  Mine did.

 

2 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

Without going into a long, boring story, my first job out of college was as an insurance adjuster.

Oh NO!  You were one of those people!!!! ?

 

Jani

[tracy_j]

Without even going into detail I think that with most people living for a year they would be somewhat more relaxed in who they are. This would not stop them being nervous, but in this case a nervous woman not a nervous man.For example, it is usually easy to spot the difference between a man in a dress and someone who is used to wearing a dress. Ok this is not proof but, at least for anyone used to trans people, and they may be few though, it would probably be obvious.

 

Tracy

[ShawnaLeigh]

I had indeed t

14 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

I expect the only person to ask is going to be the insurance drone ... ahem, insurance adjuster ... trying to deny your claim because that's how insurance works.

I had indeed called my insurance company and they have a dedicated trans advocate I talked to.  Wonderfully helpful women and she was giving me way more info then I had asked about.  She sounded excited for me.  I am basically all set as far as insurance goes.  She even told me what doctors are best in my area and who is "In-Network" to be fully covered though not that I have to go to them only.  I even asked about the year long wait.  She told me "that's a doctor thing not a thing for our insurance company".  WPATH SOC I assume she meant.  Its almost as if I got preapproved right then and there.  

I am truly loving Vermont as far as Trans life goes!

[SaraAW]

That’s amazing news Shawna!  Great to know you have options too. 
 

My private insurance through work will only cover my drugs. Didn’t have to prove anything, just told them I was trans asked questions about what was covered, they told what was and wasn’t based on my plan.
 

In Ontario, our provincial insurance will cover GRS bottom surgery if you jump through a lot of hoops and are willing to wait years. They may cover top surgery, but only if you have no breast growth after a year on hrt. Not sure I want to go down the road of bottom surgery or even top, unless I really have no growth. I would consider FFS, but I think hair removal first then save for ffs. 

[VickySGV]

First thing I did was get a discount card from a couple of cosmetics chains (Ulta and Sephora) and kept the first catalogs they mailed me.  Ten years + later and post surgery I finally threw out the catalogs, and really the worst was that no one ever asked me to prove how long it had been in any way shape or form.  I frequently attend conferences for mental health providers to the Trans community and almost none of them even mention RLT if they observe the mental health improvements in the person improving and not heading backwards in their feelings of comfort and acceptance.  Here where I live the only insurance folks interested even in the letters that say a person is qualified for the surgery are the malpractice carriers for the hospitals where the surgery is done, our Calif. Insurance Code says GCS and HRT must be included in ordinary health insurance plans.