CAPTAIN'S BLOG
Plan G is a government service available to British Columbians who require psychiatric medication but are unable to afford it.
Plan G covers 100% of the cost of nearly all psychiatric medication available on the market. It is a great service, and has done a great deal of good both in my life, in the lives of the people I know who rely on it to help them afford their medication, and hundreds of thousands of other Canadians living in BC. College students, college grads struggling to get their start, people whose income has suddenly changed, people on a fixed income, the good-old-fashioned poor, and others all benefit greatly from Plan G. However, as a transwoman, I am disappointed and frustrated that Plan G does not cover the hormones that I require for my mental and physical health. I can go to the pharmacy and not have to worry about having to pay for my antidepressant, but I often have to worry about whether or not I will have to pay for my hormones. As someone who is low income, the beginning of the year is a challenging time. In January of this year I went to the doctor and learned that I suddenly had to pay full price (~100$ a month) for my hormones. Since I cannot afford them, I had to go without for a day until I could get some money from my mother to pay for them - something not everyone can do. We have understood and accepted as a people that anyone who needs psychiatric medication should be able to get it, even if they haven’t a single dollar to their name. It would be cruel to restrict their access to these chemicals that, when discontinued, bring withdrawal effects that can be very difficult and emotionally painful for people to handle. It can interfere with the progress that has been built up over time, and change someone who was getting better into someone who is getting worse. Hormones for transgendered people like me are no different. They are a key part of my overall mental stability. Going from having no testosterone and plenty of estrogen one day to lots of testosterone and little estrogen the next is a mentally difficult and emotionally challenging time which no transperson need experience - especially since we generally already have enough problems. The situation that arose this year when my deductible was set based on my income from two years ago, which is vastly different from my income now, resulted in me leaving the pharmacy with my antidepressants, but no hormones. Had I been unable to get help from a family member, I would have had to wait at least 21 days (not including snail mail transit) for Pharmacare to process my paperwork indicating my inability to afford my medication, in which case my deductible would be set to 0$ and I’d be able to get my medication after about 1 month. No one should be denied their medically necessary and psychologically important medication simply because they cannot afford it. Hormones are technically no different from anti-depressants and other psychiatric medication that is covered by Plan G. Also, my anti-depressants will be useless when consumed without the additional stability offered by my hormones. Given this disparity, we must urge those responsible in our medical system to cover hormones for transpeople under Plan G. Anyone unlucky enough to not be able to turn to another for their medication costs needs our help, and the help of our government. Our united voices will be required to get the attention of those who can make this change, in the process, helping thousands of transmen and transwomen all throughout British Columbia.
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AuthorChristina Hitchens is a trans female writer living in BC, Canada. She loves computers, animals, and a good argument. Archives
March 2022
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