Insurance launches health insurance for LGBT
A Dutch insurance firm plans to offer special healthcare policies for its LGBT clients. The policy has been worked out in co-operation with the COC Dutch gay rights group, and will be available from the beginning of 2008. Dawn Betteridge, Social Services Director at the Schorer Foundation, which offers advice and information to Dutch LGBT people is happy about the development. “Options are always a good idea, different people, different needs. And however we can highlight whatever specifically plays a role for gay and lesbian people the better.” Betteridge added that one of the problems that gay and lesbian patients often face in the healthcare system is the assumption that they are heterosexual. In this respect, she says, the new policy will have an important educational effect. A simple question from a doctor, for example, to a lesbian woman about whether or not she is using the contraceptive pill will set a tone for future discussions that she is going to have with that healthcare professional.
In addition to alerting care providers to patient’s sexuality, the policy may offer more specific benefits as well, with access to clinics and practitioners that are especially welcoming to gay clients, and recognition of same-sex partnerships. AGIS, the insurer will start to offer the new policies in January 2008.
