NJ universities to offer improved healthcare for transgender students

Kelby Clark | Rutgers University

Lack of health care coverage is often a problem for many who identify as transgender. But four of New Jersey’s top public colleges and universities recently joined other schools across the country in removing transgender exclusions from their student health insurance policies.

The College of New Jersey, Rowan University, Montclair University and Kean University will offer students a healthcare plan that covers counseling, hormone therapy, electrology and gender confirming surgeries, effective August 15.

Following unanimous approval by a consortium of New Jersey institutions of higher education composed of the four state colleges and universities, transgender exclusions were removed from the colleges' mutual student health insurance policies.



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Brian Edwards, coordinator of the LGBTQ center at Montclair State University, formally proposed changes to the student injury and sickness insurance plan — which is offered by all four universities — on March 26, 2015 in a letter to university’s administration.

Edwards he says was “beyond ecstatic” for Montclair State University students as well as students of the other three institutions upon learning the proposal had been approved.

“By removing those transgender exclusions from our SHIP [student health insurance plan], our university shows their commitment to all students at the institution and aligned our student health insurance benefits with our institutional values, previous actions, and non-discrimination policies,” said Edwards.

The additions to the coverage plan are being offered through UnitedHealthcare. While there are 25 public and private colleges and universities in New Jersey (not including community colleges), due to a change in the law in 2013, the state's colleges and universities are required to offer coverage for full-time students. But individual colleges throughout the state have their own policies regarding the type of healthcare coverage students must have.

Thus, not every college in New Jersey covers healthcare needs related to gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder.

According to Campus Pride, a nonprofit organization that serves lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and Ally student leaders and LGBTQ-related campus organizations, only 63 higher education institutions across the country cover hormones and gender reassignment or gender confirmation surgeries for students. This number includes Rutgers University and Princeton University, both of which are based in New Jersey.

Emily Dodd, spokeswoman for The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), told NJ.com that the college’s initiatives surrounding inclusion and diversity were main motivators for supporting the removal of transgender exclusions from the previous healthcare policy.

"TCNJ supported including the gender identity disorder coverage because we feel that it is in line with our initiatives around diversity and inclusion," said Dodd.



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Eight years ago, no U.S. universities or colleges offered comprehensive health care benefits to transgender students. But it appears an increasing number of colleges and universities are working to be more inclusive by adopting health plans that acknowledge the healthcare needs of all students, among other initiatives.

According to Shane Windmeyer, co-founder and executive director of Campus Pride, Southern, rural, conservative and historically black campuses have been less proactive in terms of instituting more transgender inclusive policies when compared to colleges in more urban or progressive areas.

Edwards however, explains that the universities that have been able to offer students more inclusive healthcare insurance have, "LGBTQ Centers on their campuses with professional staff advocating for the needs of their LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff.”

“Here in New Jersey there are only three other institutions of higher learning with LGBTQ Centers: Princeton University, Rutgers Newark and Rutgers New Brunswick . . . Kean, Rowan, and TCNJ join that short but growing list in providing trans-inclusive healthcare to students because of our mutual SHIP [Student Health Insurance Plan],” said Edwards.

For colleges and universities looking to remove transgender exclusions from their health insurance plans, create on-campus LGBTQ Centers, or develop more transgender-friendly policies and programs, Edwards recommends the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals.



Kelby K. Clark is a student at Rutgers University and a summer 2015 USA TODAY Collegiate Correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.