Employers report zero or very low costs and yet substantial benefits, for them and their employees alike, when they provide transition-related health care coverage in their employee health benefit plans, according to a new study by Jody L. Herman, Williams Institute Manager of Transgender Research.
The report,” Costs and Benefits of Providing Transition-related Health Care Coverage in Employee Health Benefits Plans: Findings from a Survey of Employers,” finds that a majority of 34 employers (providing such health care for 2 million people) reported that they would encourage other employers to add the coverage, and none would advise against it.
Among the key findings is that 85 percent of the 26 employers that provided information on costs of adding coverage to their existing health benefits plans reported no additional costs to add said coverage. Also, rhe type, number and cost of services accessed by individuals will vary, yet the costs of these benefits, if any, are very low, as is the utilization of the benefit.
The full report is at williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Herman-Cost-Benefit-of-Trans-Health-Benefits-Sept-2013.pdf.