Healthcare... Really?! (Kern County Transfriendly Endo NEEDED!)

[Olivia-Anne]

Soo I apprently have what some people would call a "good health care provider" however, I unknowingly at the time, picked a terrible plan. I'm on an HMO plan, and from what I can gather they basically assign docters that you have to use but the overall plan is cheaper. So, I finally have a letter from my therapist approving me for HRT. Great, right now all thats left is to find a docter. There are only 4(!) Endos that are on my plan. The first 2 I called "Oh I'm sorry we are no longer working with HMO's". The third one I called, "Oh did you say transgender looking for HRT, we don't accept transgender patients." Yay discrimination. The fourth one I called "Did you say transgender? Is that a type of insurance?" WTF?!? Seriously!?

On a slightly more serious note, can someone enlighten me on the process a little bit. I'm probably going to have to pay out of pocket. I'm pretty sure there isnt a gender clinic in town or anything like that. But my question is, do i have to see a PCP first to get recomended to an Endo, or can I just find an Endo that actually earned their degree and isn't a bigot, that is willing to treat me?

Thanks in advance for the advice ladies

<3 Liv

[Jamie D]

Hi Olivia.  Although I have lived in Bakersfield twice in my lifetime, I have no specific knowledge of endos there.

Two things come to mind.

First, does your HMO have a list of preferred or plan providers (other than endos)?

Second, you might be able to locate a GLBT-friendly general practitioner, who can prescribe your HRT medications.  Not every TG/TS has access to a knowledgeable endo.

[Jamie D]

You may be able to get information from this therapist's office

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=53893&amp;county=Kern&state=California

try also

www.gaybakersfield.com

[Olivia-Anne]

Yes there is a list of general practioners I can go to, I'm not sure if they are capable of doing what is necessary to start hrt. I'm assuming any idiot with a PHD can prescribe them, I want someone who can correctly monitor and test for problems should they occure. Judging from the phonecalls I've been making I think I am going to have a problem just finding a non-transphobic one. Although my friend knows a general who is totally cool, but I went there saturday and tried to use my insurance and found out about all this HMO crap. I tried to just pay cash instead of using my insurance and they said they couldn't accept cash, which frankly left me speechless.

-Liv

[Olivia-Anne]

You may be able to get information from this therapist's office

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_detail.php?profid=53893&amp;county=Kern&state=California

My therapist is suppose to be getting back to me with a list of local Endo's she is going to ask her group that she is hosting today for information on them. So hopefully I will hear some good news. I have a couple that are more Orange County way, but I would rather have someone more local. I know they are here I am just super impatient with this shiny new letter of approval in my hand...

<3 Liv

[Jamie D]

Yes there is a list of general practioners I can go to, I'm not sure if they are capable of doing what is necessary to start hrt. I'm assuming any idiot with a PHD can prescribe them, I want someone who can correctly monitor and test for problems should they occur. Judging from the phone calls I've been making I think I am going to have a problem just finding a non-transphobic one. Although my friend knows a general who is totally cool, but I went there Saturday and tried to use my insurance and found out about all this HMO crap. I tried to just pay cash instead of using my insurance and they said they couldn't accept cash, which frankly left me speechless.

-Liv

To prescribe medications in the state of California, you need to have a license as a MD or DO.  A PhD can not!

Any GP worth their salt can read the WPATH SoC protocols.  They can also order the standard blood test to establish a baseline, and then track your progress.

Have you read the posts on the HRT board?

[Jamie D]

My therapist is suppose to be getting back to me with a list of local Endo's she is going to ask her group that she is hosting today for information on them. So hopefully I will hear some good news. I have a couple that are more Orange County way, but I would rather have someone more local. I know they are here I am just super impatient with this shiny new letter of approval in my hand...

<3 Liv

Orange County!?  You could find others in and around Westwood (UCLA) and save yourself half of that trip.

[Olivia-Anne]

O.C. is a little bit more convienant, I have a bunch of friends I stay out there with about once a months and spend the whole weekend as my-self. Just don't want to have a doctor apointment in the middle of my fun weekend lol. I'm poisitive there is someplace in town. I think I am going to talk to my friend some more and see if I can wrangle a visit with her to just get bloodwork done. Once i have that there is a doc online that will prescribe after a phone consultation and after he gets the results of the test. Which was what i was going to do before my insurance became this huge obsticle as opposed to helping me out...

[Jamie D]

O.C. is a little bit more convienant, I have a bunch of friends I stay out there with about once a months and spend the whole weekend as my-self. Just don't want to have a doctor apointment in the middle of my fun weekend lol. I'm poisitive there is someplace in town. I think I am going to talk to my friend some more and see if I can wrangle a visit with her to just get bloodwork done. Once i have that there is a doc online that will prescribe after a phone consultation and after he gets the results of the test. Which was what i was going to do before my insurance became this huge obsticle as opposed to helping me out...

Insurance companies like to take your premiums,but hate to pat claims, don't they?

[Olivia-Anne]

This is the insurance that my company pays for as part of my benefits package... im thinking i would rather just get paid the 375$ a month instead of getting this so called insurance...

[Jeneva]

My therapist and PCP visits and meds are all covered by my wife's insurance, but I don't even bother trying to file the endo's.  His office doesn't even directly take insurance, but he is one of the few friendly in the area.

[Olivia-Anne]

Do I have to see the PCP first just to get the bloodwork to bring to the Endo, or can the endo just take care of the whole shabang? Since I'm going to have to go out of pocket I am trying to limit the docter visits.

<3 Liv

[NotThereYet]

Insurance in our country is not really the best, now is it?
In Germany and other European countries even the SRS is covered by insurance.. Oh well...

Does anybody know how much HRT is going to cost?

Cueers and good luck!

Andi :-)

[Jeneva]

My endo did all the blood work in his office and used a testing center.

[Olivia-Anne]

My endo did all the blood work in his office and used a testing center.

Ok, thats kind of what I was thinking. I will continue my quest to find an Endo then. Hopefully I can get into see one soonish. Friday is my day off from work, and I can actually have more time to call docters offices then 15 minutes after i get home lol. Thanks for your replies ladies it is very much appreciated! Honestly I needed to vent a little bit too 

<3 Yah!

Liv

[driven]

I'm in Fresno and get my HRT through Planned Parenthood. I just checked the PP website and Bakersfield's clinic is also run by the same Planned Parenthood Mar Monte group, so they might follow the same informed consent procedures there. The PP website doesn't list LGBT services at the Bakersfield location, but it also isn't listed for Fresno and they definitely do offer it.