Gay-Specific Health Insurance Plans

Dutch insurance company AGIS, in cooperation with gay rights organization COC, will begin offering a health insurance plan specifically for gays. This more gay-friendly policy combats a "heterosexually assumed" healthcare system, where all patients are assumed straight and office care often lacks specific considerations for LGBT people. (read Coming Out to Your Doctor).

The Schorer Foundation, a LGBT organization in the Netherlands, recognizes the specific healthcare needs of LGBT people:

"Options are always a good idea, different people, different needs. And however we can highlight whatever specifically plays a role for gay and lesbian people the better," says Social Services director, Dawn Betteridge. "We also need to start thinking about health a little bit more broadly than just in terms of medical health. For gays and lesbians in particular that also stretches into mental health, and we may be able to say then that there's more of a need for certain groups of people than for others, based on the level of discrimination that they face."

The new gay-friendly policy will alert practitioners of their patients' sexuality, offer listings of gay-affirmative health care providers, and provide special services for older gays.

The AGIS gay-specific insurance plan will hopefully send ripples throughout the health care industry. Some clinics see the need for specialized care, yet other providers lack adjustable health plans for diverse patient rosters. I, for one, would feel more comfortable discussing anal care, hepatitis or the dangers of HPV with an insurance company and a doctor that won't chuckle at the thought of discussing gay health issues or leave me on the line in awkward shock and silence.

Gay Healthcare:
Finding a Gay-Friendly Doctor

Elsewhere on the Web:
Gayhealth.com

_{Image © Franco Giovanella.}