New Jersey's Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan, which covers students at four public educational institutions in the state (The College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Montclair University, and Kean University) will begin providing coverage for transgender health issues beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
The plan, offered through UnitedHealthcare will offer coverage of counseling, hormone therapy, electrology, genital surgeries and surgeries to change some specified secondary sex characteristics.
By providing these benefits, we also hope to alleviate the health risks of transgender students, which can include depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and poor academic and work performance.
--Brian Edwards, coordinator of Montclair University's LGBTQ Center
Edwards set the wheels in motion for this change by asking university officials to remove exclusions in the old plan regarding healthcare for transgender students.
TCNJ supported including the gender identity disorder coverage because we feel that it is in line with our initiatives around diversity and inclusion.
--TCNJ spokeswoman Emily Dodd
UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for services according to the benefit plan selected by colleges and universities in compliance with state and federal requirements.
--UHC spokeswoman Tracey Lemper
TCNJ notified students that the entire cost paid by each student passes to the insurance company and that the college does not profit from the premiums.
New Jersey law was changed in 2013. Students are no longer required to have health insurance, but state colleges and universities are required to offer insurance coverage for full-time students.
Rowan, TCNJ and Kean require all dull-time students to have coverage. Montcllair allows students to sign a waiver opting out of the insurance but warns them they will face possible tax liabilities in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
New Jersey City University, Ramapo College, Stockton University and William Paterson opted out of providing student health insurance. NJIT's plan specifically excludes gender reassignment surgery and Rutgers University's plan includes treatment for gender identity disorder, including psychotherapy, hormone replacement, genital surgery, and surgery to change secondary characteristics.