<p>“College costs are on the risehaving increased at a rate that outpaces inflation for more than two decades, contributing to record levels of student debt. Nevertheless, Duke University saw fit to raise the cost of its program even more. This week Campus Reform reports that Duke has raised student fees in order to pay for sex change operations for any student who wants one.” …</p>
<p>[Duke</a> Raises Student Fees to Pay for Sex Change Surgery](<a href=“Duke Raises Student Fees to Pay for Sex Change Surgery | The College Fix”>Duke Raises Student Fees to Pay for Sex Change Surgery | The College Fix)</p>
<p>This is just nice for all those full pay parents.</p>
<p>What a waste of money. ^I agree. This is an insult to everyone paying full tuition. I wouldn’t want my tuition money going to that.</p>
<p>Not just to people paying full tuition, unless they are going to raise FA grants to cover the additional cost to attend.</p>
<p>Oh good thing the basics are covered. Hopefully this includes a private hospital room stay as well as a choice of all and any dietary options. New wardrobe funds must also be included as must all necessary medication…for ever…even after they graduate Duke. It’s time that colleges become the new healthcare providers! It’s only appropriate since the Feds are a primary source of funding already and are now major players in the healthcare market. I’m sure this is covered somewhere between page 45,000 and 53,232 of the ACA details.</p>
<p>Actually ALL body dysmorphic disorders need to be covered. Fair is fair after all. Any student with BDD should immediately sue on the basis of discrimination! And, if you can afford full pay then you morally OWE it to the less fortunate.</p>
<p>(in case there is any doubt…yes this is sarcasm) Oh good grief.</p>
<p>Political correctness gone to the extreme…</p>
<p>A 0.3% increase is basically not worth mentioning…except that it leads to a provocative debate. But healthcare costs have been increasing 10-15% annually. I have no idea how common it is for insurance to cover such a procedure, but this shouldn’t really have any effect on people…</p>
<p>0.3% of what though when you say nothing? 40k tuitions are not nothing but 500$ health center bill is like 2 dollars. For someone to cover a couple of those surgeries at 100k, you do need at least 15 dollars from each kid. But if they predict 10 each year, now we need to collect 75 dollars from each kid.</p>
<p>The principle of it is irritating. I’m not sure that I will get accepted to Duke, but if I do, I don’t want that outrageous tuition going to little boys who want to turn themselves into girls at my expense.</p>
<p>
0.3% of Duke’s $45,620 tuition and fees would be an extra $137 per person, but tuition is not affected by this increase. 0.3% off Duke’s $1600 fees is an extra $4.80 per person.</p>
<p>It should be noted that Duke is following many other universities in this, such as [Tufts[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/2013/02/06/student-health-plan-to-cover-sex-reassignment/]Brown[/url”>Student health plan to cover sex reassignment - The Brown Daily Herald]Brown[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://uhs.berkeley.edu/students/insurance/transgenderbenefits.shtml]the”>http://uhs.berkeley.edu/students/insurance/transgenderbenefits.shtml]the</a> UC system](<a href=“http://www.boston.com/yourcampus/news/tufts/2013/04/tufts_university_expands_student_healthcare_plan_to_include_gender_reassignment_surgery.html]Tufts[/url”>http://www.boston.com/yourcampus/news/tufts/2013/04/tufts_university_expands_student_healthcare_plan_to_include_gender_reassignment_surgery.html), [url=<a href=“http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/transhealthinsuranceFAQ.php]Penn[/url”>http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/shs/transhealthinsuranceFAQ.php]Penn[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/for/lgbt/trans.cfm]Cornell[/url”>http://www.gannett.cornell.edu/for/lgbt/trans.cfm]Cornell[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.stanforddaily.com/2010/02/17/perspectives-on-coverage-of-trans-surgey/]Stanford[/url”>Perspectives on coverage of trans surgery]Stanford[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~prism/CaltechSHIP_GenderReassignmentFAQs_2010_11.pdf]Caltech[/url”>http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~prism/CaltechSHIP_GenderReassignmentFAQs_2010_11.pdf]Caltech[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu/studentHealthServices/documents/PDFs/HPO/transbrochure.pdf]NYU[/url”>http://www.nyu.edu/content/dam/nyu/studentHealthServices/documents/PDFs/HPO/transbrochure.pdf]NYU[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“Student Health Services | Emory University | Atlanta GA”>Student Health Services | Emory University | Atlanta GA]Emory[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“Site Not Found | Student Life”>Site Not Found | Student Life]Michigan[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://getinvolved.wustl.edu/LGBT/transgender/Documents/TransFAQ.pdf]WUStL[/url”>Campus Life - Students]WUStL[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/yale-to-extend-insurance-for-transgender-sexual-reassignment-surgery-to-students?directory=100011]Yale[/url”>http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/yale-to-extend-insurance-for-transgender-sexual-reassignment-surgery-to-students?directory=100011]Yale[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/lgbt/resources/trans/health-wellness/]Princeton[/url”>http://www.princeton.edu/lgbt/resources/trans/health-wellness/]Princeton[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“http://www.michigandaily.com/content/other-ivory-towers-harvard-insurance-cover-sex-changes]Harvard[/url”>http://www.michigandaily.com/content/other-ivory-towers-harvard-insurance-cover-sex-changes]Harvard[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“LGBTQ Student Life | Center for Identity + Inclusion | The University of Chicago”>LGBTQ Student Life | Center for Identity + Inclusion | The University of Chicago]Chicago[/url</a>], and several others.</p>
<p>This will be the norm at all top colleges in the very near future. Other universities such as [url=<a href=“http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/04/duke-insures-sex-changes]UNC[/url”>Duke University will cover sex change surgery on student insurance -]UNC[/url</a>] are already discussing it.</p>
<p>The article is from a site called “The College Fix” with subtitle of the site: “Original. Student-reported. Your daily dose of <em>right</em> minded news” (with “right” in italics.). So just perhaps there is a political bias…?</p>
<p>Warbler, will they be paying for plastic surgery as well? It’s in the same category. Damn that bothers me.</p>
<p>They certainly should cover gynecomastia surgery for any male that requests it. This is more common that gender reassignment but certainly as important.</p>
<p>Student fees at Duke ran about $660 this year for the required fees. This increase to the health fee (which is what the increase actually is) is only about $20 a semester. From 2011-2012 to 2012-2013, that fee went up $10. It was bound to go up again. This isn’t a big deal. What’s $20 when you’re spending $21k a semester just for the tuition?</p>
<p>warblesrule - I read the story for Stanford. It sounds like they included it in the health insurance which is mandatory for foreign students and they are all complaining about paying for a service they don’t need but can’t avoid since it is mandatory.</p>
<p>I am curious how many students actually buy insurance from colleges and how much their prices go up since many are covered by parents’ plans. It sounds like Duke plan impacts all students?</p>
<p>The point is that sex changes are a psychological treatment. They’re also extremely expensive and a lot of trans people save for years to be able to get one because insurances won’t cover enough. It can be upwards of $100k to get a proper surgery. Duke is doing good by trying to help students become healthier with this.</p>
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<p>So are breast implants, fertility treatments. Viagra, etc. The issue is medical necessity, not strong preference.</p>
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<p>Free tuition would help more kids.</p>
<p>I was actually surprised to read that so many other schools are already doing this…I must be living in happyland 
unaware of my surroundings…</p>
<p>No one cares about that, Serenity. Maybe they can pay for a $5000 surgery to press my ears back which stick out slightly as a psychological treatment. Or maybe they can pay for liposuction for a self-conscious fat student? What is the difference?</p>
<p>If they want to do weird things like that, they can do it at their own expense.</p>