# Preface
I have gotten quite a few DMs about getting Gender Affirming Care (GAC) through Starbucks ever since the time I was actively working this job and posting about coverage through Reddit. As someone who personally struggled through the job itself and accessing/affording coverage of the procedures I need, I love nothing more than to provide other trans people with helpful information. I think it's especially frustrating that Starbucks doesn't seem to have any actively updated, accessible documentation on how its coverage works.
Here's what I know, please feel free to ask any questions or provide any relevant information.
# Background and Disclaimers
My relationship with Starbucks has been extremely turbulent to say the least. I am a nonbinary trans woman (they/them, xe/xyr) who worked at the company for nearly 3 years until I was fired back in September. I'm mentioning this specifically because I have experience through accessing benefits through COBRA. I also have a husband who currently works at Starbucks, and I plan on getting FFS through them once we're married.
At the time of writing, I have successfully gotten HRT, hair removal (Facial/Surgery Site), and bottom surgery through Starbucks coverage.
Everything I present to you is information provided to me by a Starbucks Advocacy representative, as well as personal experience from receiving coverage. ***Speaking of which, the most important thing you need to know is the Starbucks Advocacy Number. In the U.S., that's (866) 849-7103. Call them and ask for information regarding Transgender-related healthcare coverage, and they will redirect and assign you to someone who can help you throughout the entire process.***
***This post was made on March 30th, 2022, and I stopped receiving coverage as of March 1st 2022. Please confirm the information in the posts and comments with a Starbucks Advocacy representative before planning out your medical transition.***
# FAQs
**What do Starbucks plans cover?** Starbucks insurance plans cover most gender affirming procedures, including but not limited to: Bottom surgery (Vaginoplasty, Phalloplasty, and Metoidoplasty, both full and penile/vaginal preserving), Facial Feminization/Masculinization Surgery, Top Surgery, Breast Augmentation, Electrolysis/Laser Hair Removal, Voice Training, Body Contouring, and more. Please Call Starbucks Advocacy to ensure whether something you need is/isn't covered, as well as how it's covered.
**How do I get coverage?** You need to be enrolled in at least a bronze health insurance plan of some kind before receiving coverage. If you work \~20+ hours a week for your first 3 months after getting hired, you are eligible for coverage. You are also eligible after working \~20+ hours a week (520 hours in a single period) once the enrollment period approaches. Ask your manager or Starbucks Advocacy when enrollment period is.
**How does coverage work?** There are 2 ways Starbucks will cover your GAC: either through your currently enrolled insurance plan or through Starbucks' Supplementary Plan. Some gender affirming procedures, like bottom surgery, will be billed through your basic insurance plan, requiring you to pay deductible/out-of-pocket-maximum amounts. That being said, make sure you enroll into an insurance plan your preferred surgeon will accept if you're getting something covered by the basic health insurance plan, like bottom surgery.
Procedures like FFS/FMS and hair removal, however, are not covered by basic health insurance plans at this time of writing. Coverage is done through the Starbucks Supplementary plan instead. This plan usually requires a letter from a therapist stating you are in need of GAC. After working with your Advocacy rep and getting the procedure/care you need, your representative will receive your invoice, get it denied through your basic insurance plan, then 100% reimburse your invoice through the supplementary plan. I have only so far used the supplementary plan for hair removal\*\*, which is usually reimbursed via a check in the mail. I would assume the reimbursement would be sent directly to the surgeon/healthcare provider for things like FFS/FMS.
*\*\*See "How much have you personally had to pay for your gender affirming care through Starbucks?" for information on hair removal coverage*
**Can I still get coverage through the supplementary plan if I get fired or leave Starbucks?** Yes. If you leave Starbucks or get fired, you will still be on your insurance plan until the end of the month. If you enroll in COBRA extensions (which can be expensive but worth it if you get a procedure like FFS/FMS), you will still be covered by the Starbucks Supplementary Plan.
**I want to help my domestic partner/spouse with their transition. Can I get them covered through the supplementary plan at Starbucks?** Yes. If you enroll your partner into an insurance plan through Starbucks, they are eligible for GAC coverage through their basic enrolled plan and the Starbucks Supplementary Plan.
**Am I eligible for paid leave while I recover from my gender affirming procedure(s)?** Yes. Starbucks covers paid leave through a third party called Sedgwick. I currently do not have the phone number for Sedgwick, but you can ask your Advocacy representative for it as well as any information on getting paid leave through it. From what I've heard, Sedgwick only covers 60% of an average of your previous paychecks. As always, confirm this with your Advocacy Representative, or Sedgwick itself.
**Am I eligible for paid leave while I take care of my partner who underwent a gender affirming procedure?** This depends. You are entitled to paid time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act, but only after working for Starbucks for a year. Consult your representative and the U.S. Department of Labor website for more information:
$1**When should I tell my manager that I will be taking time off?** I will say that I'm more biased as someone whose manager was discriminatory against me while I worked at Starbucks. You only really need to tell Starbucks Advocacy and Sedgwick about your planned medical leave 2+ months in advanced, or as soon as you can tell them. I would alert your manager 4-6 weeks in advanced, but otherwise keep quiet about any upcoming gender affirming procedures.
**How much have you had to pay for your gender affirming care through Starbucks? Any tips for saving money for procedures?** I was able to get a year's worth of weekly electrolysis 100% reimbursed, both for my face and surgery site.\*\* If you need hair removal, I highly recommend having $500-$1,000 saved up before starting the process, as I had about that amount give or take circulating in checks.
For bottom surgery, I had Blue Cross Blue Shield Silver and got my procedure done in San Francisco. I ended up paying $5,300 (my out of pocket maximum) for the surgery itself. The entire thing, including rent/food, travel, parking, the procedure, etc. cost me a little over $10,000. This may vary depending on the surgeon you choose, the procedure you're having, and which city you travel to.
My best advice is to enroll in a 401k plan ASAP. If you work for Starbucks for more than a year, you'll be able to borrow or withdraw from your 401k as well as sell Starbucks provided company stock to pay for larger procedures. Please do this wisely, as there are taxes associated with both and a 10% early withdrawal penalty from your 401k plan. ***I am not a professional, so please do your own research and use your own discretion in regards to withdrawing/borrowing from your 401k plan and selling stock.***
My other piece of advice is to look into the possibility of working a 2nd job while working Starbucks 20-25 hours a week. Starbucks was my only job for most of the time I worked there, so a lot of the time I was underscheduled and covering at 30+ stores during my employment just to make ends meet. It definitely helps a lot if you can find another part time job that pays more and/or is less stressful while you get coverage through Starbucks.
*\*\*(Hair removal is generally reimbursed 100% through the supplementary plan. Your representative might have you cover hair removal for bottom surgery through your basic insurance plan. But, if something was causing problems, like your surgeon failing to provide you with a letter approving coverage for hair removal, it's possible your representative will put coverage through the supplementary plan.*
*Something else to note, when a med spa/electrologist/laser technician sends an invoice for hair removal, it doesn't specify where the electrolysis/laser hair removal was performed. You could, hypothetically, state that you need some other, unrelated hair removal to your representative, and then get it done somewhere else on your body.)*
# This is all the information I can provide off the top of my head. AMA, and please cross check any information in this post or in the comments with a Starbucks Advocacy Representative at (866)849-7103!