Nico Gaspari. As A Man. With the thick Beard, the big holes in the ears, the Tattoos, the big upper arms, he exercise in the gym – Bodybuilding is his passion.

The 44-Year-old didn’t look, but always so. The first 25 years of his life to the former What has been spent as a woman named Rachel. Just 20 years ago, the alignment process began for him. This started with countless psychological interviews, which should make it plausible, how he wished to be a man.

it went on with a psychiatric expert report, testified that a life as a woman, couldn’t get him permanently out of the question. And then, finally, Nico Gaspari, the long-awaited surgery. “On 8. December 2000 I have been, so to speak, born a second Time – and although without Breasts, without a uterus and without ovaries,” he said a year ago to this newspaper. The occasion for a documentary about TRANS people in the Swiss television, where Gaspari told his story.

completely

The last step to manhood Nico Gaspari was not able to draw until today. A kidney disease prevented the Operation. And including, the native of Lucerne suffers. “It’s only a Penis would make me a perfect man,” he says.

Video: “at the Time, as a woman, I would never be such an Event”

Nico Gaspari Rachel was used to. We visited with the Trans man’s Man’s World Zürich and wanted to know how he experienced the men of the fair. Video: Anja Ruoss, Anja Stadelmann

A surgical gender reassignment is not the only way the 44-Year-old, in order to overcome this hurdle. Because in addition to a surgery, there are, especially in Germany, trained specialists, prostheses, Penis, so-called prostheses. Gaspari is not the Only one who is convinced of this method.

other TRANS people in his environment, have decided to take this step. The prosthesis costs with good 10000 francs, only about a tenth of a surgery. “In addition, it remains the rule, not only in the case of an Operation, and this, in many cases, yet complications,” says Nico Gaspari.

“It is degrading, like we have to justify for a genital prosthesis.” Nico Gaspari

The prosthesis’s one step less than a surgical procedure. “Especially for young people, the harmonization of the man is very important.”

Until today, but Gaspari, who now lives back in his home town can benefit from this penis prosthesis. His health insurance, the cost of rejects takeover even after several requests. “Only in the case of gender reassignment, a performance obligation for the mandatory health care insurance,” wrote the Visana last year in your explanation.

Nico Gaspari shakes his head. “The decision of the health insurance Fund, is absolutely arbitrary, but saves even money, because I am not engaged.” And he presents a half-dozen applications of well-Known, in which all health insurance companies the cost.

“It is already degrading enough that we have to attach documents such as a letter of motivation, to justify why a genital prosthesis is so important for us.” Also, a psychiatric evaluation by a physician is required, the evidence of the psychological need.

“It will, in the future, in our society, more and more TRANS people.” Nico Gaspari

Especially frustrating, Nico Gaspari finds the Situation, because he has submitted his request at the same time with other stakeholders – at various health insurance companies. The other is to Fund the costs were taken after the first application. “Why are there no common solutions?”, the 44-year-old Lucerne asks. He ensures that the leaders with the theme, even politicians. “Because it is in our society, TRANS, more and more people.”

” the takeover of this newspaper asked health insurance companies to respond with the same answer to the question of costs. “In the case of the alignment measures are complex cases, it is necessary to check individually and carefully”, say it in unison. In this area, a fundamental performance was a takeover impossible. And yet, all insurers of Gaspari nutrition’s well-Known decided to take on the cost.

“benefits will be paid if they comply with the principle of effectiveness, appropriateness and cost-effectiveness”, explains Matthias Müller, Chairman of Santésuisse, the industry organization of health insurers. The application must meet these three points. The examination of a request is determined from trusted physicians on common Standards.

However, the need for intervention is strongly case dependent. “The experts will assess whether the performance for the single Person is medically advisable,” says Müller. “But if the concern is primarily aesthetic and not medical reasons, you will not be responsible for the costs.”

In the case of Nico Gaspari used the penile prosthesis in the sense of a means, writes the Innova. The prosthesis was not included in the list of resources and objects and is, therefore, no duty of performance. In addition, the Innova is based on the Federal office for health (BAG).

“The BAG has confirmed that the prosthesis care insurance is not an obligatory performance of the obligatory sick and not remunerated. Our hands are tied”, as stated in the response to the request of Nico Gaspari. Have traded with all other health insurance companies, which have taken over the cost, is wrong?

“is confirmed by The explanations of the Visana are correct,” the BAG. It was so that these services may not be in the mandatory health care insurance. A different look at additional insurance policies.

Other

to go Even if its applications were previously rejected, the 44-Year-old continued, to his right. The one with the Right but in the case of TRANS people anyway, such a thing, he finds. “I had to let my gender reassignment, sterilisation forced on them, that has to do with discrimination?” ask Gaspari.

Sometimes he had to listen to, he should let it be good, or not make a fuss. “Can’t really see almost no one, what it’s like to be stuck in a body like mine.” The most bothers him that much, too many people would be able to decide over his body. “Sometimes I feel helpless.”

Nico Gaspari doesn’t like to Give up despite all adversity. “The crime my Penis will go on.” (Berner Zeitung)

Created: 07.02.2019, 11:35 PM