Waiting on the VA
So now I'm waiting on the VA to decide whether or not they will approve me to go see the endocrinologist. The council that decides these things meets only once a month.
Meanwhile, I line everything up for changing my gender markers and name legally.
Here's the kicker about the VA - the members of the council who decide whether or not to approve treatments are NOT actually doctors themselves. They are budget-minded pencil-pushers looking for ways to keep costs down; ergo, looking for ways to avoid treating things. And they are swamped with requests from all the returning veterans, and thus do not bother to read the entire request nor do any research on why any requests were made. Any excuse they can find to deny treatment, they take and leave you waiting another month or more for your appeal to be heard. And another month after that for them to decide about your appeal. THEY get paid for every time they look at your case, whether or not they decide to approve treatment.
Frustrating is a mild way to describe it.
Life goes on.
Meanwhile, I line everything up for changing my gender markers and name legally.
Here's the kicker about the VA - the members of the council who decide whether or not to approve treatments are NOT actually doctors themselves. They are budget-minded pencil-pushers looking for ways to keep costs down; ergo, looking for ways to avoid treating things. And they are swamped with requests from all the returning veterans, and thus do not bother to read the entire request nor do any research on why any requests were made. Any excuse they can find to deny treatment, they take and leave you waiting another month or more for your appeal to be heard. And another month after that for them to decide about your appeal. THEY get paid for every time they look at your case, whether or not they decide to approve treatment.
Frustrating is a mild way to describe it.
Life goes on.
Replies
Have you already found the endocrinologist you want to go to or will you start that after they approve?