SPARKS, Nev. — Transgender city employees in Sparks will now be able to undergo gender reassignment surgery under the city’s insurance plan.

Sparks City Council voted Monday to approve insurance coverage for the surgery for city employees. The issue was combined with an agenda item that detailed changes and savings under the city’s new insurance plan, which goes into effect Jan. 1.

The city first considered including the surgery in their health plan when legal secretary Kristen Aaquist went before the city’s Group Healthcare Committee to request insurance coverage in summer of 2014. Aaquist has been a Sparks employee for 14 years and began her transition two years ago.

Gender reassignment surgery can be costly, with male-to-female reassignment surgery costing between $21,000 and $50,000, and female-to-male surgery costing up to $100,000.

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