MtF SRS costs in Australia

[Harrietta]

I'm concerned about the process of transitioning as I want to go all the way and believed I could until I heard from a trans man that their operation would cost over $90k, which I doubt I'd ever be able to afford. 

 

As far as I know, transwomen are entitled to a rebate or something which can sometimes even result in the surgery being free of cost. 

 

Is anyone here able to tell me how much the operation is, or let me know where I'm able to find up-to-date info on this? The Medicare rebate is a recent intervention, afaik, so I'm struggling to find much on it. 

 

Thanks,

Harrietta

[Miss Julia]

Harrietta, I am in the process of having SRS and most of my costs are being covered by gender clinic in Melbourne. It takes a long time to get accepted and approval for government subsidies. Medicare doesn't give any significant medical rebate as far as I know. I've recently joined a private health fund and that helps pay for hospital costs. Last year I had bilateral orchiectomy and soon I'll have next stage of my gender affirming surgery. I've decided having my surgeries in two or three stages is the best way to go. My clinic and surgeon are happy to do it that way. Full cost of MtF SRS in Australia is $30k. FtM bottom surgery is not available in Australia and is always far more expensive. You should enquire about being admitted into Monash gender clinic. I hope this helps.

[Jani]

Harrietta understand that FTM surgery is much different and complicated than MTF and therefore more expensive.  

[Harrietta]

Miss Julia, and Jani, thank you both for your replies to my question. 

 

I'm trying to obtain HRT through my counselor but he isn't a specialist in gender counseling, nor is able to connect me with a psychiatrist who could but he is willing to recommend HRT to my treating GP, unfortunately, I don't think my GP is able to approve it for me. I'm in the deep end with all this and feel like my GP and counselor aren't willing to help me as much as I need them to. 

 

It sucks how FtM SRS has to be on unequal grounds, and pains me to think of the men struggling with the financial and geographical limitations imposed upon them. I'm going to be a little selfish here and press my own agenda by asking whether the $30k is before cover has been alocated or whether that's the estimated expense including covered expense of MtF SRS. 

 

Thanks again,

 

Harrietta

[Miss Julia]

Harrietta, $30k is the quote I received from my surgeon in Australia for MtF SRS. So I guess this is before any cover has been allocated. I'm not totally sure about all the financial aspects of my surgery. I have a social worker at gender clinic and she takes care of that side of things for me.  

 

Good luck, 

 

Miss Julia

[Harrietta]

Thank you so much Miss Julia, 

 

All the best, 

Harrietta