Trans student denied coverage for hormone therapy says policy is 'rooted in transphobia'
CBC
When Memorial University student Jiya Chandan learned her insurance provider doesn't cover the medication she requires as a transgender person, she didn't think too much of it.
But her perspective changed when the lack of coverage was questioned by her doctor.
"I realized that this is not right, that this is something that I wouldn't have thought about because I'm so used to these barriers, but it's not okay," said Chandan.
Chandan enrolled at MUN as an international student from India to study political science and has been taking hormones for almost three years.
The medication is a combination of testosterone blockers and estrogen supplements taken by many transgender people.
While Chandan was enrolled in Green Shield Insurance, which is offered to a majority of MUN students, about 70 per cent of the medication costs were covered.
But only students with a valid MCP can enrol in Green Shield.
When Chandan's MCP expired, she was forced to switch to Guard Me, the insurance provider used by many international students at MUN.
Now Chandan has to pay the full cost of the therapy — about $70 every month — herself, something she hasn't always been able to do.
"I've had to skip doses or I've had to make a month's dose last for two months by taking it every alternate day," said Chandan.
"It's not ideal to do. There can be adverse risks to your body, but those are just risks I have to be willing to take because I would rather have partial hormone medication than none."
Mackenzie Broders is the trans student representative with the Canadian Federation of Students in N.L.
Broders says it is "shocking" to hear that Chandan doesn't have adequate access to hormone therapy.
"Gender-affirming health care in all forms should be covered, especially hormone therapy," said Broders.