Top Surgery for Two-Spirit Person

Osiyo (hello)! My name is Taylor (they/them). I am a Two-Spirit Cherokee person (Asegi Atsoine), living in a fairly rural region in California.

Usually my health care is well covered by my health insurance, but since it is a federal health plan, they do not provide the same coverage as state health insurance. They are still following discriminatory policies that exclude Two-Spirit and other non-binary identities from receiving gender affirming surgical procedures. I have been informed that my appeal will require a policy change, which may take years to approve.

In addition, the supplemental support that I was hoping to receive through United Indian Health Services for co-payments and travel expenses, services they offer when they need to refer patients outside of their offices, is not available for gender affirming care. I have been informed that it may take years to change this policy as well. Since I am in California, I am outside of the service area for my Tribe to help me financially either.

I am fortunate enough to have a surgery date secured with an experienced surgeon in the nearest major city (6 hours away), but may lose my surgery date and have to wait at least a year to get back onto his schedule if I cannot raise the funds to pay for it. Most grants I have found are only for procedures done more than a year out, so I am not eligible to apply and keep my surgery date.

I am hoping to raise funds here to supplement the savings I have put together and the one grant I have been able to apply for (small dollar amount) that I hope to receive.

Any funds raised here will go towards surgery costs, travel expenses, recovery, and potential lawsuits for the gender discrimination and racism I am experiencing by being denied coverage. Any funds that are recieved in excess of these expenses will be passed on to other BIPOC trans people seeking gender affirming care.

Thank you for considering helping me get the care I need. Wado!