Media Release
Wednesday April 26th 2023
 
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE SHOULD INCLUDE TRANS AUSTRALIANS 
CONSULTATION REQUIRED ON TRANS MEDICARE REFORM
 
National LGBTIQA+ advocacy Just.Equal Australia has called for urgent consultation with trans and gender diverse people to ensure any reforms to Medicare allowing rebates for gender affirming procedures are fully inclusive. 
 
 
Just.Equal Australia spokesperson Sally Goldner AM stated that “for Medicare to be a truly universal health care system for all Australians across all needs, it needs to be accessible in every aspect, in particular in relation to being financially equitable. This includes in relation to trans health processes in Medicare.” 
 
“Because there are no Medicare rebates for gender affirming procedures, many trans people are sadly having to resort to withdrawing money from superannuation.
 
"However many trans people don’t have superannuation at all due to the discrimination that creates underemployment and unemployment. Worse still, the Government is clamping down on superannuation withdrawals to fund 'cosmetic' surgery."
 
"This unfairness stops people from receiving the life-changing and in some cases life-saving surgery they need and puts people at risk of having lower savings later in life when they are likely to be vulnerable.” 
 
In June 2022 Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney said trans health care reform was underway. But Ms Goldner said this needs to be undertaken in full consultation with trans and gender diverse people. 
 
“Consultation needs to be undertaken first and foremost with a broad cross-section of trans and gender diverse people to ensure the full range of needs and experiences are covered, thereby ensuring reforms are fully inclusive." 
 
"We note strongly that while procedures for trans women are costly enough, those for trans men are even more financially prohibitive ($70,000 out of pocket). Non-binary people may also need particular surgeries to ensure they can live in as healthy a way as possible.” 
 
“ALP policy supports the aim to achieve equity and access to health outcomes for trans people and we call on all federal MPs to ensure full consultation and rapid achievement of this vitally-needed policy reform.” 
 
For a copy of this statement on the web, click here
For more information contact Sally Goldner AM on 0407946242