“For quite some time, Cardinal Care has included transgender non-surgical treatments. Students have made a compelling argument to include a benefit for transgender surgical procedures. Transgender surgical treatment is an important modality, and we are pleased to be able to include that surgical coverage in 2010-11.”–Vaden Health Center Web Site

Cardinal Care’s recent decision to include transgender surgery in its student insurance policy brings forth a difficult situation that is likely to further polarize students on both sides of the issue. It is easy to see the logic in both sides, from those who view transgender surgery as a necessary procedure with vital benefits to transgendered individuals, to those who are not comfortable with covering a controversial treatment out of the pockets of a collective insurance plan. In the end, Cardinal Care must be ready to intellectually defend its decision while also addressing the concerns of those who do not think the procedure should be covered by insurance.

For those in support, the mental health of individuals seeking reassignment surgery is deeply connected to the physical and mental health of transgender individuals. The emotional quagmire of living as a sex you do not identify with also has many medical trappings. Therapy, medications such as anti-depressants and other treatments incur costs by students living without surgery as an option. The decision to extend transgender surgery coverage legitimizes the connection between the mental health and physical state of transgender individuals.

Many of those averse to this recent change rest on the logic that transgender does not fall into the “pool of collective risk.” As the “risk” involved in this issue is hard to define and does not pose a threat to or occur in a majority of the population, covering the surgery under the umbrella of Cardinal Care creates a logical disjoint. Yes, Cardinal Care is optional for most students, and therefore those with ethical or personal issues with the plan are free to purchase other health insurance from competing providers. The only problem with this argument is that the new mandatory policy of international students buying Cardinal Care, eliminating an opt-out for this group of students. Depending on the moral position of prospective international students, the coverage of transgender reassignment surgery in Cardinal Care may discourage many potential international applicants in years to come.

In choosing to include transgender surgery as part of their coverage, Cardinal Care has made a bold statement philosophically and morally. The Editorial Board now urges Vaden and Cardinal Care to work towards educating the student body about transgender issues so that those uncertain about the new policy may be better informed. It would also help for Cardinal Care to provide a more detailed explanation of their reasoning in adopting this policy. Clearly stating the ethical and logical grounds for this change will help Cardinal Care uphold the new policy even while it may remain controversial for some time.