Another Orchi question

[ShawnaLeigh]

So I am pretty far from being ready for surgeries “down there”.  I have had 3 in this area to date but for male issues.  I once had a cancer scare and when I went under for surgery on that I did not know exactly how much would be left when I woke.  Secretly I hoped both gone.  I even told the doctor to just take then if the slightest chance was there for cancer.  He saved most of both.  ?
I am quite sure once I am finally out to my family and on doctors supervised  hrt for a while it will be something I will seek to get done.  
I know very little about what it takes to make this happen.  I can only assume letters and such but maybe not.  I don’t know.  
Insurance is another biggy.  Is this sort of surgery something they cover?  I have BlueCrossBlueShield if that helps.  
Timelines.  Do you have to wait for XXXX.  Or can it be done quickly?

Pain factor?   Like I said I’ve had stuff done there but not major removal.   
I told that last doctor to just put a zipper in.  I knew I’d need to go back in eventually.  Lol
Any insight would be appreciated.  
Thank you❤️
 

[Jackie C.]

My Blue Cross covers it if you've been living full time as female for a year and you have two letters of recommendation (and you have it done by the scary guy at UofM). You might want to check your policy and see what they cover because that's not necessarily what's required by WPATH standards of care. You might have to call them directly and have an uncomfortable conversation. You might be able to get away with it easier because of your cancer scare.

Oh, this is important: If you're going for a vaginoplasty later, make sure they perform the orchi in such a way as to leave tissue for the second surgery. If they remove the scrotum entirely, you'll have a problem. You're also going to want aftercare to make sure that it doesn't scar into an impenetrable knot of tissue. I don't mean to scare you there, just something to be aware of.

We've also got a guy around here who will do it in his office for $10,000 with just an informed consent document, but I've been told that that isn't a very good value. Not what I was after anyway, so not a big deal.

I'm also unfamiliar with gender marker laws for Vermont. You should make sure that an orchidectomy is enough to get your gender marker changed in your state. Presuming that you're planning on having your... in Michigan I need it for Social Security, so that's probably the same, and updating my Birth Certificate. I can do driver's license and passport on the word of my primary care physician... though the process is screwy.

 

Does any of that help? It wasn't for me, but I did my research before I hammered out a plan.

 

Hugs!

[Carolyn Marie]

I agree with what Jackie told you, hon.  Insurance requirements vary by state and by policy.  It is still legal to deny such surgery for any reason in many states.  That was the case here is CA just a few years ago, but no longer.  If they do cover it, you'll need to get into the details (fine print)  on what they require to prove medical necessity.  Insurance covered mine, and they paid the ridiculous charge from the urologist without a squawk ($23 K!).  She justified it by claiming she made it look nicer, hence she could charge extra for "plastic surgery."

 

The surgery itself should be an easy outpatient procedure.  They gave me 5 pain pills and I think I took one.  Back on my feet the next day.  Easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy.  LOL!

 

Carolyn Marie

 

 

[ShawnaLeigh]

Yes. Thank you. Dry much for the info.  I have heard each state can be different.  
It’s as I expected it is not an easy step.  
Anything worth doing is ever easy.