**** NS Government Media Release

HEALTH/WELLNESS–Expanded Coverage for Transgender Women

Starting July 1, government will cover breast augmentation surgery for transgender women in Nova Scotia.

Breast augmentation is being added to the list of publicly funded gender affirming surgeries. Nova Scotia is the fourth province to do so, after British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

“I can appreciate the distress transgender people can experience during their transition, and I thank those who have advocated for this change,” said Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey. “We are now providing more support and more equitable coverage for transgender women.”

Transgender women will now have coverage for breast augmentation consistent with that available for all other women. Eligibility is determined based on criteria and assessment by a health care professional.

More information, including the list of publicly funded gender-affirming surgeries in Nova Scotia, is available at https://novascotia.ca/dhw/gender-affirming-surgery/ .