Two weeks after the Pentagon announced the new TriCare policy which includes coverage for counseling and hormones, but not for endocrine treatment for children or gender reassignment surgeries, and one week after Chelsea Manning was approved to seek treatment by a surgeon, the Pentagon has changed its tune:

Transgender troops on active duty may qualify for sex-reassignment surgery if their physicians deem it necessary, according to Pentagon officials.

Military.com announced yesterday the release of a new TriCare policy which includes some coverage of treatment for transgender people. TriCare governs medical treatment for military members, their family, and retirees.

The move gives the health care system's regional contractors the go-ahead to cover some transgender care starting Oct. 6.