U of I to Insure Student Sex Changes on Chicago Campus

University of Illinois trustees have changed the student health insurance plan at the Chicago campus to cover sex-change surgery.

Trustees voted 6-2 to add the benefit and approved a 15 percent increase in the annual cost to students. Insurance will now cost $922 a year.

The vote followed about 15 minutes of debate. Most trustee votes are unanimous and extended debate about most items on their meeting agendas is relatively unusual.

Trustees Timothy Koritz and Ed McMillan voted against the measure. Koritz said the move could lead to public financial aid paying for a procedure some taxpayers oppose.

But trustee Patrick Fitzgerald said trustees shouldn't consider whether taxpayers approve of every medical procedure.

Fitzgerald noted that some other universities have adopted similar plans.