The Biggest Threat Against Gender-Affirming Care In the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Was Just Removed
Finally some good news!
Earlier today, the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee unveiled its version of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill.’ Previously, I covered the House’s version of the bill and the two anti-trans provisions extremist House Republicans had inserted. While the ‘Trans Hyde Amendment’—which bans federal funding for Medicaid from going towards gender-affirming care—unfortunately remains on the bill for now, the provision that would’ve stopped requiring insurance companies to cover gender-affirming care has been removed.
A Partial Victory Today, A Full Victory Tomorrow?
This specific provision has been floated by Republicans since Trump’s second term began, including by the HHS, which I analysed here. The idea is simple: by removing gender-affirming care as an Essential Health Benefit, coverage would be up to insurance companies (unless they are mandated to at the state level). Essentially, starting in 2027, medical transition would have become unattainable for a large segment of the American trans community. However, its removal now means that insurance coverage for gender-affirming care is most likely safe until 2028. This is a huge victory, one that Senate Republicans actually did themselves.
While I’m sure they knew that provision probably would not have survived the Byrd Rule—a special Senate rule that allows the opposition to challenge extraneous provisions of a bill passed through Reconciliation (which requires a simple majority instead of 60 votes in favour)—it is certainly interesting that they did not keep it to see if it stuck, an approach that is all too common when it comes to Republican-made laws surrounding transgender people. Thankfully, as of tonight, the risk of it being passed is now near zero.
Of course, there’s still the question of the Medicaid ban. While Democrats have said they intend to use the Byrd Rule to remove this part of the bill too, nothing is set in stone yet. If you live in a state with a Democratic senator, or even a state with Republican senators but want to make your voice heard, call their office or send an email to make sure they do everything in their power to challenge the ‘Trans Hyde Amendment.’ Our trans siblings who rely on Medicaid—a figure estimated to be around 20% of American trans adults—are counting on us.
I certainly will pass on your message, I'm glad you getting out of Texas, I would be absolutely terrified to live there, or even visit with as transphobic as they quickly seem to be turning as a whole. That they are even considering legislation to make being transgender and having ever stated your experienced gender a felony, that's just horrible and unforgivable.
I wish I could find a way to move to Illinois, I know Chicago is one of the safest places to live currently beyond Vermont as a transgender person, so I'm glad you are able to go to college there. I hope you're able to more comfortably discover yourself and figure out your gender identity in that environment, just remember to be careful when visiting back home from college, because it could definitely be a whole lot worse than when you were last there.
I'm in Ohio, and I've been fighting with our group to get the Senate to remove harmful provisions that were added against transgender people to the state budget, HB96, and as hard as we've tried and as much work as we've done, I'm afraid it may still return to the house as is, with only one piece having been removed that was antitransgender regarding driver's license.
Thank you for writing this, for giving me and others a ray of hope in these dark times.
The executive director of group I'm with, Trans Unity Coalition (Bree Taylor), was curious if I knew the author, but I don't know you, unfortunately.
Bree is in Washington DC currently through Monday legislating against the budget provisions. I'm sure she would be happy to pass on any words to members of the Senate you may have.