# DSM-V Renames Gender Identity Disorder 'Gender Dysphoria'. What impact on ins. coverage for surgery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 8, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsm-v-renames-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria-what-impact-on-ins-coverage-for-surgery/668352 "2013-09-08T20:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsm-v-renames-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria-what-impact-on-ins-coverage-for-surgery/668352/1 "2013-09-08T20:17:37Z")
[DSM-V To Rename Gender Identity Disorder ‘Gender Dysphoria’](http://www.advocate.com/politics/transgender/2012/07/23/dsm-replaces-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria) Per the article “disphoria” (a temporary state) is less loader than “disorder” which implies a more permanent affliction. The flip side is that insurance carriers (per the article) are less likely to cut checks for disphorias vs disorders. This article was in July 2012. How has this coverage issue panned out? > [@](#): > > From a legal perspective, the classification of Gender Identity Disorder is extremely harmful to some trans people, but surprisingly beneficial to others. > > In one legal case, says San Francisco psychiatrist Dan Karasic, a trans woman from Utah risks losing the children she fathered before her transition. Because she is trans, a lawyer has argued that her GID is a “severe, chronic mental illness that might be harmful to the child.” > > But in other cases, a GID diagnosis justifies insurance coverage for gender reassignment surgery and other medical procedures that sometimes accompany a transition. Having a diagnosis is the difference between a necessary medical procedure and something that can be perceived as cosmetic surgery that insurance won’t cover, Drescher says. > > Others argue that GID should stay in the DSM in some form because it provides a solid legal defense for transgender people who have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity. > > “Having a diagnosis is extremely useful in legal advocacy,” said Shannon Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “We rely on it even in employment discrimination cases to explain to courts that a person is not just making some superficial choice … that this is a very deep-seated condition recognized by the medical community.” ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsm-v-renames-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria-what-impact-on-ins-coverage-for-surgery/668352/2 "2013-09-08T23:47:20Z")
It’s not really as big an issue as people outside the community believe it is. Pretty much any employer who won’t cover you before won’t cover you now, and those who covered it before will still cover it now. Debate has raged since last year on whether this is a good or slightly bad thing, with IMO, most commentators feeling that it’s a very good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsm-v-renames-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria-what-impact-on-ins-coverage-for-surgery/668352/3 "2013-09-09T03:24:15Z")
Wouldn’t the main factor in this being “temporary” be the fact that it can be treated? People who think it’s some sort of “phase” don’t do it based on which greek roots are being used to call it, but on their own prejudices - changing the greek doesn’t change their prejudices and emphasizes the treatability. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dsm-v-renames-gender-identity-disorder-gender-dysphoria-what-impact-on-ins-coverage-for-surgery/668352/4 "2013-09-09T16:33:10Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > It’s not really as big an issue as people outside the community believe it is. Pretty much any employer who won’t cover you before won’t cover you now, and those who covered it before will still cover it now. Debate has raged since last year on whether this is a good or slightly bad thing, with IMO, most commentators feeling that it’s a very good thing. This is about 100% accurate. Been working in the health insurance industry for almost 20 years and, for the time being, this is how it is.