Stephen Colbert isn't cool with Medicare-funded sex-change operations

Stephen Colbert isn&#039;t cool with Medicare-funded sex-change operations — (Image credit: Colbert Report)

On Tuesday night's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert noted that Medicare beneficiaries can now appeal to have the federal health care program cover their sex-change surgery. The Stephen Colbert character, at least, wasn't pleased. Among the reasons: Paying for old people to switch genders "violates the tacit agreement we've reached with the transgender community," Colbert said: We are "totally cool" with it "as long as you are hot." Another one: "After a certain age, who can really tell men and women apart?" Colbert had a cheaper solution — and if I were his future grandkids, I'd save this clip for when Colbert himself reaches retirement age. --Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.