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[–]our_team_is_winning 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

It's not as lucrative as transitioning kids in countries like the US without national healthcare

I guess that explains the UK "making it up in volume" ! They've seemed more hell bent on transing as many kids as possible. I'm no expert on the NHS, but I'm guessing they are charged inflated prices by these drug companies. And if you trans a kid at 9 or something insane, they need those drugs for a lifetime, right? Talk about a lifelong customer, even if it's the taxpayer footing the bill.

I wonder if the trans drugs will all go generic and then not be as profitable. What then? Maybe a bigger push for surgeries.

[–]BEB[S] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

I have no idea how it works in the UK but in the US, I've read from respectable sources that the puberty blocker Lupron cost more than $1000 a month.

And yes, IIRC, a "transitioned" person is on hormones for life.

[–]diapason 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Wow, do they have to pay the thousand bucks themselves (or rather the parents would)? Or would insurance cover it?

[–]BEB[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I don't know but I've heard that some insurance companies cover transition, but I'm not sure if they cover for minors. It's more than $1000, more like $1100 - $1300/ month IIRC.

[–]diapason 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Hmm. This might just be the only case where I'm glad cost will probably prevent a lot of kids from receiving it