In a decision considered a major victory by transgender activists and outraged social conservative groups, the San Francisco Health Commission voted earlier this month to allow sex reassignment surgeries to be covered under the city's local government-funded universal health plan.

San Francisco became one of the first jurisdictions in the United States to approve a universal health coverage plan in 2006.  After being given the go-ahead by judges in 2008, Healthy San Francisco was implemented for residents of the city who met certain income guidelines and were able to show that they had not been insured or able to be insured for at least 90 days.

Some types of services were excluded from the coverage granted by the Healthy San Francisco program.  These services included all forms of elective plastic surgery, which included sex reassignment surgeries.

However, after a discussion with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Transgender Law Center in San Francisco, Healthy San Francisco has now modified the rules to permit sex reassignment surgery for people whose biological sex is at odds with their subjective gender identity.  According to the Transgender Law Center and many transgendered activists, the surgery is in many cases a medical necessity to relieve negative physical and mental symptoms associated with gender dysphoria.

This doesn't mean that transgendered people who are using the Healthy San Francisco plan can start making plans for surgery yet, though.  Because the program was not yet set up to allow this kind of surgery, it will take some time for the city to determine how best to make these services accessible to the public.  Surgeries are expected to become available on the plan no sooner than in late 2013.

The move is a groundbreaking one by the Healthy San Francisco plan, which has been a source of city pride ever since it was implemented.

Some have expressed concern about the potential cost of performing genital reconstructions (known as “bottom surgery” by transgendered people and activists for transgender rights) and mastectomies or breast implants (called “top surgery”).  However, not all people who are transgendered find it necessary to have any surgeries, and many prefer to forego the more costly and risky bottom surgery in favor of having top surgery alone.

The city believes that within three years, it can have a full medical resource center available for transgendered people.  This medical resource center would include not only doctors who could help transmen and transwomen obtain the kinds of surgical and medical interventions they need, but also information on transgender health issues and counseling for people experiencing negative effects of gender dysphoria.

While San Francisco is the first city to make transition surgery government-funded, more American companies are including sex reassignment surgery as part of their company paid health insurance.  This has come after  recognition from medical professionals that transgendered people suffer significant consequences as a result of being unable to express their gender externally the way they feel it internally.

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that will provide a traveller with coverage against monetary losses, obtained during the trip, and delayed or cancelled travel.

Furthermore, purchasing travel insurance will offer coverage for costs associated with medical expenses, financial hardships over travel suppliers and other losses that may incur while travelling. Travel insurance may be purchased by an individual travelling within his or her country or abroad; regardless of the location, the insurance policy provides coverage against any financial losses that occur as a result of travelling.
Similar to other insurance policies or types of coverage, travel insurance will be offered by competing travel insurance companies and their coordinating agents. In any competitive market, there is a great deal of diversity in regards to what situations are specifically covered or offered in a policy or product, to what extent the policy is offered and the overall price of the package.

As is common in all insurance markets, travel insurance companies will specialize in different aspects of coverage and will provide specific packages based on where the individual is travelling to, what mode of transportation they are using and the type of travel insurance offered.

Types of Travel Insurance:

In addition to a traditional travel insurance policy, an individual can purchase temporary or cheap travel insurance, which is usually arranged at the time the trip is booked. Temporary or cheap travel insurance will provide coverage for exactly the duration of the trip.

This form of cheap travel insurance is less extensive than continuous travel insurance, which can be purchased from travel agents (work for travel insurance companies) or directly from travel suppliers, such as tour operators or cruise lines. That being said, a comprehensive travel insurance package, purchased from a travel supplier, will tend to be less inclusive than a policy offered by an insurance company.
Travel insurance will often provide coverage to an assortment of travels; student travel, leisure travel, adventure travel, business travel, international travel and cruise travel are all options or forms of travel that can be covered by travel insurance.

Travel Insurance Reviews:

Travel insurance reviews are resources, typically offered online, that enable individuals to evaluate and price various travel insurance plans. Travel insurance reviews will evaluate all major travel insurance companies and their coordinating travel insurance policies; however, travel insurance reviews are limited in regards to their personalization and customization.

For example, single parents travelling with young kids do not need the same type of coverage as retirees vacationing on a cruise. Furthermore, a short summer vacation will require different coverage than a longer trip, such as living abroad. These characteristics play a crucial role in the evaluation of a plan’s effectiveness, because often times, the most suitable form of insurance is solely dependent on your particular trip.
Although a lack of personalization damages the true effectiveness of travel insurance reviews, it is still necessary to use the resource when deciding on purchasing a policy.  As a general tool, travel insurance reviews will tend to cater to larger companies, who are able to offer a wider array of protections and policies. Travel insurance companies aside, the following aspects are sought after and recommended for the following types of travel:

What kind of Travel Insurance do I need?

Best Travel Insurance Plans for Vacation or General Travel: Traveller should have a pre-existing condition waiver, financial default, trip interruption (up to 150% reimbursement for unused travel costs), medical coverage (min $25,000), baggage coverage (min $1,000), evacuation coverage (min $100,000)

Best Travel Insurance Plans for Family Travel: Coverage for children is free, medical coverage (min $25,000), repatriation coverage (enables the kids to travel home if parents are hospitalized) and ‘cancel for any reason’ available. 

Based on Travel Insurance Reviews, the two best and most comprehensive travel insurance policies for family travel are the Worldwide Trip Protector from Travel Insured International and the Gold Protect Assist plan from Travel Guard

What is Van Insurance?

Van insurance is a specialized form of auto insurance that is designed and offered specifically for owners of vans. This form of insurance is primarily purchased by shipping, transportation or service companies who frequently use vans to execute their day-to-day business model.