Starbucks to pay for all transgender staff’s surgeries

Starbucks has announced plans to offer comprehensive care for transgender employees, covering several procedures that are usually excluded by insurers.

In the new plan announced on Monday, Starbucks said that in addition to covering bottom surgery, they will now cover all other medical steps in a person’s transition.

This will cover several other procedures that were previously considered cosmetic – which can often be hard to obtain as insurers typically refuse to cover them.

Starbucks marks Pride Month (Joshua Trujillo, Starbucks)

The international coffee chain will now cover procedures including top surgeries in the form of breast reduction or augmentation, hair removal or transplants and facial feminisation surgery.

As well as covering all gender-confirming surgeries, the coffee chain will also help trans employees find appropriate doctors and healthcare providers.

Starbucks has covered bottom surgery since 2012, making it one of the first national employers to do so in the US.

Although many employers now provide coverage for bottom surgery, many trans people have highlighted the need for comprehensive coverage.

Trans advocates have highlighted that medical transition is often represented as one surgery, when it actually involves multiple procedures that take many years.

Medical transition can involve many procedures (Creative Commons)

Ron Crawford, vice president of benefits at Starbucks, explained that the new plan hoped to be fully inclusive.

• Nov 29

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