As reported this week an article appearing in them.โa Condรฉ Nast publication devoted to “the lens of todayโs LGBTQ community”โthe Seattle-based international coffee brand Starbucks is said to have just adopted the โmost comprehensive trans health policy in the world.โ
According to the article, the new policy is a โdirect parallelโ with the World Professional Association for Transgender Healthโs (WPATH) international recommendations for trans healthcare. This is the result of Starbucks working directly with WPATH to create the new benefits package, expanding the companyโs trans benefits that have included gender reassignment surgery since 2012. The new packages, called โStarbucks Transgender Medical Benefits,โ extends to โlifetime coverage for everything from hair graft and voice therapy to facial feminization and breast augmentationโservices considered vital for transgender healthcare but often listed as โcosmeticโ and not covered by health insurance.โ
Per the article, Starbucks is the first company to approach WPATH about turning their Standards of Careโa 120-page document list of care guidelines and provider recommendationsโinto a corporate policy. Much like with their findings that led the company to 100% pay equity, Starbucks is hoping to share these new policies created in tandem with WPATH with other employers looking to provide more trans-inclusive benefits.
For more information on the Starbucks Transgender Medical Benefits, the company’s announcement can be found here.
Zac Cadwaladerย is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas.ย Read more Zac Cadwaladerย on Sprudge.
Top image via Starbucks.
