Any public service employee who wants to take advantage of the funds can claim the benefit to put toward “certain gender affirming procedures not covered by provincial/territorial health plans to help people with their gender affirmation journey.”
To qualify for the benefit, employees must be over 18 and under the care of a physician for gender affirmation. The applicant must also exhaust all available provincial or territorial medical coverage offered, and “have all procedures considered medically necessary by the attending physician/nurse practitioner.”
The benefit requires prior approval and the completion of a “Gender Affirmation Application Form,” by both the individual and their medical care provider, to be submitted to the insurance company for review.
Some trans individuals seek out laser hair removal, liposuction, tracheal shaves, facial plastic surgery to be more masculine, feminization surgery, and implants to their buttocks.
Union Agreement
The Treasury Board Secretariat initially announced it had reached an agreement with the unions to create a “renewed plan” at no additional cost to taxpayers in August 2022.“For the first time, coverage would be available for gender affirmation, placing the Government of Canada as a leader in modernized employee health care benefits,” said the Treasury Board.
Later that month, some of the highlights of the planned changes were detailed by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, noting there would be an “overhaul” to the plan’s benefits and coverage.
One heading announces comprehensive coverage to care for members “in difficult life situations.” Gender affirmation and automatic coverage for electrolysis were included in this section.
Some more ordinary health-care costs have seen mild increases. For example, new benefits allow $300 per calendar year for a dietitian, occupational therapist, and lactation consultant. Federal employees can claim $500 a year for a registered acupuncturist, while hearing impaired public servants can receive $200 per calendar year for hearing aid batteries.
Laser eye surgery will be raised from $1,000 to $2,000 per lifetime, and for those who want to quit smoking to improve their health will be able to access $2,000 per lifetime, up from $1000.
Mental health services, from a psychologist, social worker, counsellor or psychotherapist will see a raise in benefit amount from $2,000 to $5,000 annually. Physiotherapy can be newly accessed without a prescription, for a continuous coverage of up to $1,500.
The allowance for vision care has been raised from $275 every two years to $400 every two years.
The Public Service Health Care Plan is administered by Sun Life Financial currently, but as part of a competitive bid, the new claims will be processed by Canada Life Assurance Company.
