Gender affirmation surgery, consists of medical and surgical treatments that change primary sex characteristics for individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria. The treatment for gender dysphoria is for the individual to align their physical primary and/or secondary sex traits with their gender identity to the extent that alleviates the symptoms. 

Delaware Mandate:

18 Delaware Code Section 2304(22)): Prohibits discrimination by an insurer on the basis of an individual’s gender identity.  Gender Identity is defined as an individual’s gender appearance, expression or behavior regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.  Delaware Department of Insurance Bulletin 86, effective March 23, 2016, prohibits the denial, exclusion or limitation of coverage for medically necessary services, at determined by a medical provider in consultation with the individual, and based on the individual’s gender identity if the service would be covered for another individual under such contract of insurance.  Coverage exclusions related to medically necessary surgeries or treatments related to gender transition or related services for gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder is a violation of 18 Delaware Code Section 2304. Determinations of medical necessity, eligibility and prior authorization requirements for diagnoses related to an insured’s gender identity must be based on current medical standards established by nationally recognized transgender health medical experts. 

Gender affirmation surgery may be considered medically necessary when ALL of the following are met:

• The individual is greater than or equal to 18 years of age; and
• The individual has the capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment; and  
• The individual has been diagnosed with the gender dysphoria, including ALL of the following:
  • The desire to live and be accepted as a member of another gender, usually accompanied by the wish to make their body as congruent as possible with the identified gender through surgery and hormone treatment; and
  • The individual's identity has been present persistently for at least six (6) months; and
  • The dysphoria is not a symptom of another mental disorder; and
  •  Any significant medical or mental health diagnosis that is present including severe psychiatric disorders and impaired reality testing (e.g., psychotic episodes, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, borderline personality disorder) which may require psychotropic medications and/or psychotherapy, and including Substance Use Disorder, must be reasonably well controlled before surgery is contemplated; and
  • The disorder causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
• The individual is under the care of physicians and/or mental health providers who are able to document ALL of the following conditions:
• For chest surgery (mastectomy and chest reconstruction)
  • Initiation of hormonal therapy (unless medically contraindicated or individual is unable or unwilling to take hormones); and
  • One (1) referral from a qualified mental health professional with written documentation submitted to the physician performing the breast surgery; and 
• For hysterectomy and salpingo-oopherectomy, orchiectomy:
  • Documentation of at least 12 months of continuous hormonal sex reassignment therapy, (unless medically contraindicated or individual is unable or unwilling to take hormones); and
• For vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, metoidioplasty:
  • The individual has successfully lived and worked within the identified gender role full-time for at least 12 months (real life experience) without returning to the original gender (unless doing so would jeopardize the individual's safety); and
  • Documentation of at least 12 months of continuous hormonal therapy, (unless medically contraindicated or individual is unable or unwilling to take hormones); and
  • Separate evaluation by the physician performing the genital surgery.; and
  • The individual must complete a psychological evaluation performed by a licensed mental health care professional and be recommended for surgery. The individual's medical record documentation should indicate that all psychosocial issues have been identified and addressed and the individual expresses understanding 7ofthe permanency of surgical intervention.

Surgical Services for Adolescents

Individuals < 18 years of age will be considered on a case-by-case basis for breast reduction/augmentation for gender dysphoria. Supporting documentation should include:

• The individual has been assessed for any co-existing mental health concerns; and
• The individual has adequate support in place; and
• The individual meets the additional requirements above.

When ALL of the above criteria are met, the following surgeries may be considered medically necessary:

• Breast augmentation (including nipple/areolar reconstruction)
• Chest masculinization (including nipple/areolar reconstruction)
• Orchiectomy
• Clitoroplasty  
• Colovaginoplasty
• Labiaplasty
• Orchiectomy
• Penectomy
• Vaginoplasty
• Colpectomy/Vaginectomy
• Hysterectomy
• Metoidioplasty
• Penile prosthesis
• Phalloplasty
• Salpingo-oophorectomy
• Scrotoplasty
• Testicular prosthesis implantation
• Urethroplasty

Electrolysis/ Laser hair removal may be considered medically necessary for the removal of hair on a skin graft donor site prior to its use in genital gender affirmation surgery.

Note: Penile prosthesis surgery is typically performed at stage two (2) or three (3) of a multi-stage phalloplasty (a minimum of nine (9) months following stage one (1)).

Note: Although not a requirement, it is recommended that individuals undergo feminizing hormone therapy (minimum 12 months) prior to breast augmentation surgery. The purpose is to maximize breast growth in order to obtain better surgical (aesthetic) results.

Surgical Revisions

Reconstructive surgery, following gender affirmation surgery may be considered medically necessary when it is performed for ANY of the following reasons: 

• Correct complications resulting from the initial surgery, or
• Correct a medical condition that resulted from the initial surgery that requires intervention, or
• Correct functional impairment resulting from initial surgery.

Reconstructive surgery following gender affirmation surgery to reverse natural signs of aging or if the patient is not satisfied with the aesthetic result is considered cosmetic and is not medically necessary.

The following services are considered cosmetic and not covered, unless they are determined medically necessary to treat the member’s condition based on scientific, medical literature and standards recognized by transgender health medical experts and are not primarily for aesthetic purposes or to reverse natural signs of aging (this is not an all-inclusive list):

• Abdominoplasty
• Blepharoplasty/brow reduction/brow lift
• Chin augmentation/reshaping
• Cheek, chin and nose implants
• Cricothyroid approximation
• Collagen injections
• Face lift (e.g., face, brow, etc.)
• Facial bone reconstruction for feminization or masculinization
• Facial feminization surgery
• Forehead lift/Forehead Augmentation
• Gluteal augmentation Hip
• Hair augmentation/reconstruction/ hairplasty
• Hair removal or electrolysis (unless for preparation of graft donor site).
• Laryngoplasty
• Liposuction/body contouring/lipofilling
• Lip reduction/enhancement
• Jaw/mandibular reduction/augmentation/sculpturing
• Implants for body contouring other than breasts (e.g., calf)
• Pectoral Implants
• Rhinoplasty including nose implants
• Skin resurfacing
• Tracheal shaving/reduction thyroid chondroplasty/thyroid cartilage reduction
• Voice modification surgery
• Voice retraining
• Vulvoplasty

Preventive Medicine GRS

Please refer to the member specific benefit plan for screenings (e.g., mammogram, routine gynecological examination, pap smear).

Preventive services are subject to the terms of the member’s individual or group customer benefit