Vanderbilt adds transgender surgeries to student insurance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt University officials say the school's student insurance will start covering transgender-related surgeries in order to make the campus a more inclusive environment for students who previously had gone without necessary care.

Vanderbilt Vice Provost for Learning and Residential Affairs Cynthia Cyrus tells The Tennessean that the change was made after a routine annual review of the university's health care plan for students.

Vanderbilt's plan has covered hormone therapy for transgender students for several years.

Nonprofit advocacy group Campus Pride says 71 universities across the country already offer the coverage.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville's insurance policy covers neither transgender-related surgeries nor hormone therapy.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com