Shiona Heru, JD

Transgender Legal Expert

Session: Learn Your Rights / 11:30 AM EST

Shiona Heru is the pioneer author of the study that proved trans health care was cost-effective for insurance companies. The study, which included a new use of the Markov model, invented by Heru, has been used by many enrollees to reverse health insurance denials for trans-related care. Additionally, states across the US have used the study to implement the coverage of transition-related care. Their study has been cited almost 70 times, including by the Department of Defense in response to Trump’s claim that trans people are too expensive for the military because of our healthcare. Shiona was invited to the White House under the Obama Administration, to discuss economic perspectives on criminal justice. They currently work with MIT on issues such as their gender neutral bathroom initiative.