Help Ember afford Gender Confirmation Surgery

Hi there!

My name is Ember, and I'd really like to get gender confirmation surgery.

I'm a trans woman who first started coming out back and doing activism in 2008. It's been a long journey, officially coming out and transitioning in 2015, starting HRT in 2017. Throughout my journey, finding trans-affirming health insurance was a challenge until some of the more recent rule changes. And life was hectic, and I was uncertain if surgery was for me.

Life has finally settled down enough that I feel ready to practice self-care by seeking surgery to feel more comfortable in my body.

I feel fortunate to have decent insurance through work. However, the insurance coverage is still only 15% after a 2,500 deductible. With a maximum out of pocket of $5,500 per calendar year. This is much more doable than numbers like 30-50k I was seeing in the early 2010s, however, I'm supporting a family of 4 on my salary in NYC.

So far, I have saved 500, and have plans for an additional $600 in contributions to savings in the new year. However, 1k feels far short of what I expect to have to pay.

I'm hoping to raise 7.5k to help with

1) The out-of-pocket deductible: depending on if the consult and the surgery fall in the same calendar year, it could be more out of pocket.

2) Travel to and from the surgeon's office: it's close, but we travel by public transit

3) Recovery and unexpected costs

4) Admin: Gofundme takes their portion.

Any contribution gets me closer to feeling more comfortable in my body. Your help means the world to me.