UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Office of Human Resources announced that gender confirmation surgery is now covered under faculty and staff health plans.

The coverage is offered through Highmark Blue Shield, Penn State’s medical insurance provider. The policy went into effect March 1.

Those with PPO Blue and PPO Savings plans can find coverage overviews at http://ohr.psu.edu/benefits/insurance/health/ppo-blue/overview-of-coverage/ or http://ohr.psu.edu/benefits/insurance/health/ppo-savings/overview-of-coverage/.

Similar coverage for students has been available through Aetna Student Health, which offers a plan that can be purchased by undergraduate students taking at least three credits or graduate students taking at least one credit.

The surgery could be considered necessary for transsexual and transgender individuals with gender identity disorder.