Matt, 17, gender affirming Top Surgery

Hello, my name is Matt. I’m a 17 year old trans person in need of Top Surgery*. I’ve been absolutely positive I need this for four years and have utilized a binder for three. I’ve lived without this surgery, yes. But every second feels wrong, and some parts of life are just impossible. Luckily, I’m currently scheduled for surgery on June 1st of this year. 


Last summer, I started a job as a farmhand. It was fun getting to work outside and be active, but I had to do it in an exercise binder. While planning my summer around my surgery in June, I penciled in that I would return to work during the end of July. But I realized work would be different then: I would feel my shirt on my skin and breathe deeply and move freely. I’ve learned to block out the wrongness for all these years because that was the only way I would make it to another day. When I socially transitioned, I realized how unbearable my past name and pronouns were to me, after I had grown numb to the incongruity in middle school. Similarly, I currently move through my day-to-day skimming over the reality that things are not right with my body, because if I fixate, I won’t function. Realizing I might work and live in a body I can connect with is immeasurably euphoric.


However, my Utah insurance provider is not allowing an appeal of their denial, supposedly because I am under 18. The denial of my right to an appeal is not only sort of illegal, but extremely frustrating, as I meet the requirements for an approval tenfold; but they currently refuse to hear it. In order to secure my surgery date, I had to agree to pay out of pocket: $10,145 for the surgery, hospital bills, and anesthesia. The $10K doesn’t include lodging, travel, co-pays, and attorney fees. Because I have a strong case and would like my insurance to cover it, we have contacted TransCend Legal, a law firm that helps trans people get procedures covered.


Dang, this sounds complicated and difficult. Why don’t I just wait until I turn 18? Well, unless my dad’s place of work changes insurance providers, I’m stuck with the same Utah company who, according to an insurance consultant, would likely reject coverage even after I turn 18. In addition to that, we’ve been trying to actually get this surgery to happen for nearly three years, and I can’t wait any more.


Here’s where GoFundMe comes in. There are clearly a lot of moving parts right now, but either way, it's a lot of bills for just my parents and I to cover. Even if my insurance covers the surgery, I will still have the other expenses mentioned above. If my insurance does not cover this, I will need to rely heavier on this fund and help from family members.


Please know: if things go better than expected and I do not need any or all of these funds for this process, I will either:

a) refund the donors if the funds remain untouched, or

b) pass the leftover funds to another trans person raising money for gender-affirming surgery if I need some but not all of the funds.


If you are able to donate, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to share this if you feel so inclined.


Thank you, 

-Matt


*Top Surgery is a double mastectomy for transmasculine people who are affirmed by having a permanently flat chest.