Help Ari Access Gender Affirming Care: Top Surgery

Hello everyone, I am Ari. Some of you may know me from my comic books, catgirl drawings, or my time publishing comics and zines. I'm coming to you all today because I need help! More help than I can just take a few commissions or sell some originals to fix. Last fall, prior to the election, I made an appointment for a top surgery consultation which is coming up at the end of July this year. At the time I thought that I would be fine and I'd have insurance through the Affordable Care Act that would cover it, as it's already covering my hormones. But given the current legislation passing through congress that would ban ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid from covering any gender affirming care, as well as massive cuts to their budgets overall, I am not getting my hopes up that my insurance will pay for top surgery, or that I will have insurance at all to be honest.

In light of this very sad situation, I'm planning for two situations.

1: My surgery takes place next year and my insurance won't cover it and it will be QUITE expensive. Probably more than my goal currently is.

2: Somehow they're able to fit me in this year, and my insurance will cover it, but my out of pocket maximum is still quite high and I will have to get the money together very quickly.

In either situation I will also have to prepare for some time off work as I will be on physical restrictions for some time after the surgery. So I will need to raise money to account for that lost income and extra costs associated with recovery.

Top surgery has always been my #1 goal in transition, and having breasts is one of the biggest causes of my social dysphoria because they out me pretty much immediately to people. I have put it off because I didn't want to ask for money but at this point it feels like if I don't get it now it may be quite a long time before I have a chance again.

Thank you all for your time, sharing, and donations. We will all get through this together <3