Updated blog features and slight navigational tutorial

Hello to all my subscribers and those that just maybe passing through. First, I want to thank everyone for all the support over the years you have offered. All the words of encouragement are just as important to me as my words are to those that frequent this space, so never feel afraid to leave a comment when your passing through. There are many exciting things coming in the near future that I will be sharing . I took some leisure time away from the blog as I just celebrated my 24th birthday yesterday . I am back now and in full effect with some more in-depth thinking.

I want to go ahead and point out some changes that I have made around here. Notice to the left side bar it looks a bit different. I took a few things down and consolidated others.

• Topics are now in a drop down menu, makes it less cluttered.

• Links have been added: Take a second to browse there are some VERY useful links over there. If your one with  a personal blog you would like to share contact me as I will be adding a section for that shortly.

• New donation button: This is NOT a mandatory obligation, if you feel as though this resource is useful by all means donate. All money collected will be divided, a portion goes into my surgery fund and the other portion will be donated to a Trans organization. If there is a specific org. you want to donate towards please leave special instructions with your donation.

Now looking towards the top menu bar….

• There is a new page that has been added. This is the reveal of who I have chosen for phalloplasty and the technique as well. Trust me the debate was long and drawn out. I bounced between forearm and MLD for a while.

• I have also added a “Transmasculine Resource” Page. If you have anything you would like to add to the resources by all means let me know.

Moving along to the tutorial on how to use my blog efficiently…

Did you know that most of the top menus are actually drop down bars? Go head try it out; mouse over anything at the top.  Once you have done that you can click everything in red for a new page.

For instance lets say you mouse over “The man behind the blog”. You get a drop down to select from all 4 choices under the parent title are clickable BUT the actual parent title is clickable as well.

Within each sub menu, I’ve taken the time to link every page back to the parent page. So say you view the sample surgery letter, scroll all the way down and you will see “Click here to return to parent folder”. This will return you to “The man behind the blog”; so it’s like having a map, you can never go too far without a guide back to the start.

I’m taking the time to point these things out as I’ve seen some of you that are missing valuable information when its right at your grasps 24/7.

Features to be added:

• Video section: Yes I still will have my YouTube but for those  viewing that rather just watch in one place there will be certain videos only available within my blog. I have not made up my mind whether a pin would be required I will let everyone  know ahead of time

• Dedicated URL:The actual URL name of this site will be changing within the next few months. It will no longer contain the WordPress signature mark but simply just  www.toyneboi.com. I’ve found that shortening the URL makes it easier to remember. As well, if unaware WordPress has formatted every blog site to be compatible via any phone. iOS, Android, and Blackberry markets all feature a functional WordPress application that allows you to read, respond, and keep up to date. So never fear, if there is no computer you can still read in full feature! 

• Share buttons: At the bottom of all posts and all pages there are now 4 different share options: 

 

• Via Google Plus, for those like myself that DO NOT use Facebook and seek actual substance in posts try out G+. Lots of fuel for the intellectually inclined as well as for those techies. 
• Via twitter, I have an account I’ll post it somewhere around here for those wanting to follow. 
• Via Press This, for those with WordPress accounts this option is great to share right into your blog. 
• Via StumbleUpon, great site that will help you find alot of related material. 

 

I am not sure at this point if I am going to be adding a Facebook button, I have personal reservations with that whole site, but that’s another blog lol.

• More templates for Physicians: From informed consent to passport letters. I get asked all the time so I figure I’d step up and make it available.

• Possible addition: I am debating on a surgeon section complied of all surgeons CURRENTLY doing surgery, techniques, and prices. I’ll let everyone know more on this as this is going to take a lot of time to do, and to properly do at that.

Over all not too much change going on but many useful features that will appear over the next few months. If  ever any questions on navigation of this blog, where to find something, or suggestions on additions by all means hit contact me and let the fingers do the rest lol.

I’ll be updating shortly on surgery so definitely check back in!

Until next time…

Salaam

All major health insurance carriers in the united states: Stop Transgender Health-Care discrimination!

For a long time the topic of being transgender was something seen as taboo but as it gains more needed traction many medical entities are starting to see that in fact being transgender is NOT a mental illness but a medical condition no different then FAI, heart diseases, or more commonly asthma. But as it has been seen time and time again companies blatantly put discriminatory exclusions to care within 75% of their policies made available to the general public. Making obtaining proper healthcare such as even regular physicians visits nearly impossible for many all because the care is deemed as transition related and immediately kicked back as denied!

Here you can read a complete PDF of what the American Medical Association has said and believes is truth in the matter:

http://www.tgender.net/taw/ama_resolutions.pdf

Taking points from this PDF I will quotes the AMA exclusively:

“Whereas, GID, if left untreated, can result in clinically significant psychological distress, dysfunction, debilitating depression and, for some people without access to appropriate medical care and treatment, suicidality and death”

“Whereas, Health experts in GID, including WPATH, have rejected the myth that such treatments are “cosmetic” or “experimental” and have recognized that these treatments can provide safe and effective treatment for a serious health condition”

“Whereas, The AMA opposes limitations placed on patient care by third-party payers when such care is based upon sound scientific evidence and sound medical opinion”

“Whereas, Many health insurance plans categorically exclude coverage of mental health, medical, and surgical treatments for GID, even though many of these same treatments, such as psychotherapy, hormone therapy, breast augmentation and removal, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, and salpingectomy, are often covered for other medical conditions”

“Whereas, The denial of these otherwise covered benefits for patients suffering from GID represents discrimination based solely on a patient’s gender identity”

These above points gain traction but this point lastly is the biggest one of them all and should be read VERY clearly;

“Whereas, Delaying treatment for GID can cause and/or aggravate additional serious and expensive health problems, such as stress-related physical illnesses, depression, and substance abuse problems, which further endanger patients’ health and strain the health care system;”

The conclusion within the AMA:

“RESOLVED, That the AMA support public and private health insurance coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That the AMA oppose categorical exclusions of coverage for treatment of gender identity disorder when prescribed by a physician (Directive to Take Action)”

With these points in mind we find time an time again policies such as this of BCBS, I will only list 2 major exclusions you can read in full here:

http://www.bcbsvt.com/member/MemberBenefits/benefit_Exclusions.html

“In addition to the specific exclusions listed elsewhere in your Contract, the following General Exclusions apply:

7. Services or supplies we determine are not Medically Necessary.

58. Treatment leading to, or in connection with, transsexual Surgery.”

In question to exclusion 7, who is making these determinations when sound evidence has been shown that transgender treatment is as medically needed as getting me my inhaler? Are these people within the corporate areas even qualified to make sound medical determinations based on notions of many prehistoric unethical medical practices? Are they even medical professionals that truly know and understand the workings of GID and everything the condition truly entails? Or are these pencil pushes half-way reading there own rules and saying no on a bias?

As well in question to exclusion 58, let me tell you from personal experience once the company sees any claim for any thing GID related you account is flagged and everything will be scrutinized and ultimately denied. It could be a regular counseling session because a person is just so depressed and has nothing to do with the condition, DENIED! It could be a normal preventative screening, DENIED! Thanks to exclusions 7 and 58 this company is still going around what has CLEARLY been stated by the AMA as unethical in any medical approach.

I am so sick of losing good friends and people I consider as close as family to depression, risky behaviors due to lack of money to cover care, and in many case them taking their life because they never see themselves being able to get the needed care that has been PROVEN to alleviate the symptoms of said condition.

So I ask you all to come to my aid and take a step that will change the face of healthcare for transgender men and women everywhere. Just as we are working men and women and further more american tax paying citizens why is it possible that some of the leading corporations are not shunned for openly discriminating against us?

Many people think this is a choice but lets ask our self, did you choose to have the medical conditions you have? Or did you choose to make sure they were corrected so you could live a life that was of good quality?

This is the reality of the situation and its time we take action. Anyone with more solid facts you would like to add or any of you that were denied by insurance please feel free to post segments of your denials and/or facts in your additional comments when signing this petition.

One voice stirs the secretaries nerves, 10,000 with wake the CEO up in the middle of the night. If this is as important to you as it it for me and so many others please take the time to sign and pass this along.

thank you all.

https://www.change.org/petitions/all-major-health-insurance-carriers-in-the-united-states-stop-transgender-health-care-discrimination

Salaam