Dexter Daily Statesman

Are sex changes necessary expenses?

Posted Tuesday, July 17, 2007, at 11:08 AM
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Let me just throw this out here and get some of your ideas on this.

I was reading on the AP today how a Massachusetts woman, formerly a man, is suing the IRS over its denial to offer a tax deduction for her sex-change operation.

The IRS ruled that the procedure was cosmetic and not a medical necessity. The woman is claiming that the sex-change operation should be viewed the same as an appendectomy, heart bypass or other necessary medical procedure (for the full story, visit www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289526,00.h....

According to the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, an estimated 1,600 to 2,000 people a year undergo a sex-change. Gender-identity disorder is a recognized mental disorder that is most often treated with hormones and surgery, costs that supporters say are legitimate medical deductions.

First off, it seems to me that there are way too many disorders out there. I am not trying to bash any one group, but there does seem to be a disorder for everything these days.

Second, I'm not sure the federal government should be required to offer deductions for people who want to have sex changes. Does that mean that they should offer deductions for those who receive liposuction or nose jobs or even boob job?

I know that many wouldn't be opposed to sticking it to the IRS, but I think that expecting it to consider a sex-change the same as a life-saving heart bypass surgery is a little much. The Mass. woman wouldn't have died without the surgery, she simply would have remained unhappy being a man.

But maybe I'm not seeing the bigger picture or being sympathetic enough. What do you think?

Comments
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I agree. My insurance won't even cover breast reduction surgery of the second breast when the first one is removed for cancer, but they will pay for penile implants.

A sex change operation would appear to be elective surgery if the breast reduction surgery is. Political correctness and sensitivity aside - enough is enough.

-- Posted by Ducky on Tue, Jul 17, 2007, at 5:08 PM

I am absolutely speechless! As a goatherder extraordinaire, I cannot relate to this topic at all!! I have never known, and never expect to know, anyone who would like to switch sexes enough to actually go through such a horrible operation!!

And for an insurance company to pay for this sort of procedure seems the height of frivolity!!!

-- Posted by goat lady on Tue, Jul 17, 2007, at 9:43 PM

I am so saddened(not shocked) that insurance would not pay for your breast surgery. This is another sad commentary on our broken healthcare system. You just can't make sense of any of it!

Unless you are a porn star or male prostitute, why would penile implants be covered by insurance or a legitimate IRS deduction?

Oh,yeah, the group most likely to need penile implants run the insurance companies and make the rules for the IRS!

I did see a special on people with this gender-identity disorder. It starts as children, they even had kids who now were living as the opposite sex because they are too young to have the surgery. It stands to reason if a hermaphrodite should not "choose" a gender until puberty, the mind plays a large part in this rare disorder.

In comparison to other mental disorders, relatively few thousands suffer from it. I think we tie it into homosexuality, when very few of these actually go onto form a same-sex relations post surgery.

If indeed it is a true mental disorder, should any insurance pay for it,when they pay so poorly for other mental health issues?

Many times since I left my parent's nest I have been without insurance,or could only afford a scary hospitalization only crap policy because I wasn't "full time with benefits". It's really scary.

I think our ENTIRE current medical system is broken and corrupt.We are such a rich country, why should even one American kid be without healthcare, much less millions?

-- Posted by Yellow Rose of Essex on Wed, Jul 18, 2007, at 8:46 AM

does ins. cover brain transplants maybe they need that, what do you think?

-- Posted by bent nail on Thu, Jul 19, 2007, at 11:43 AM

That assumes the existence of a brain. Doubtfull.

-- Posted by Ducky on Thu, Jul 19, 2007, at 12:51 PM

Just whose brain are you doubtful about?

Ooops! Bad grammatical form...About whose brain are you doubtful?? (Mustn't end the sentence with those bad, bad prepositions!!)

Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you??

Sorry......free association gets away from me sometimes. I'm just so glad to be off work and home (oops! Hope the boss doesn't read this!!)

The "Bad Boys" song is the only part of that stupid "COPS" program that I liked!

-- Posted by goat lady on Thu, Jul 19, 2007, at 6:14 PM