Cost of HRT

[Nightbug]

Hi there

About how much does it usually cost a month for HRT, like the regimen and seeing a therapist when needed. I've wanted to go through HRT for about four years now, but since I would end up having to pay for it all out of pocket with no insurance, it has been a bit of a deterrent. Now, though, I'm tired of waiting and I want to stop putting it off, but the money is still a bit of an issue. If need be I will get a second job to help cover the costs, but knowing the costs will be the first step in achieving it.

Thanks 

[Teela Renee]

depends on medications and your doctor.  seeing a therpist at low income clinic will be around 180-300 a visit  - whatever sliding scale fee they put you on.

then as far as meds go.  depends greatly, oral name brand estrace goes for about $25 USD  depending on insurence, around 4-10 dollars.
patches?  $80-120 USD  depending on insurence 40-80 dollars.
injectables,  no clue.

edit: keep in mind this is the going rates from my neck of the woods in upper michigan

[Claire25]

I am using the pill form for my estrogen my prices in my opinion are fairly decent.

Estradiol- For what I am prescribed to take, It costs about 35$ for a 3 month supply
Spiro-About 25$ a month.

I am fairly poor at this moment in time, but thankfully meds are not too expensive =)

And the therapist can be different. The therapist I see runs around 80$ a visit. Thankfully he is sliding scale and I get to see him for free. Talk to them and they may be able to work something out with you.

[Nightbug]

It sounds like that things aren't *too* expensive so that's awesome =D

I guess another question would be: what type of therapist am I supposed to talk to? Is there such thing as a gender therapist or something?

Sorry for all the questions

[Claire25]

It sounds like that things aren't *too* expensive so that's awesome =D

I guess another question would be: what type of therapist am I supposed to talk to? Is there such thing as a gender therapist or something?

Sorry for all the questions

You are looking for usually a "Gender therapist" they usually specialize in this area. They are pretty easy to find. When I was looking for mine I just typed "Virginia Gender therapist" and the first link was the Virginia Transgender referral list

Hope that help! 

[Teela Renee]

sorry to revive a semi dead thread, but you can also see a regular therpist, my endo took a referal for hrt from a normal therpist.  But only because he provided documentation to my endo that he had past experiance with a few other mtf, who had already been well into hrt.   but a gender specialist you will benifit from more. More or less

[Tammy M]

If you use insurance it will really depend on the copay.  When I started my prescription was one  patch (8 per month) and two  spiro pills per day.  My understanding is the cost of the Vivelle dot patches was ~$100 for the month and the spiro was failry cheap.  With insurance copay my bill was $45 per month.  When my doese was doubled I was assuming the cost would be doubled but actually the copay stayed the same.  If I had to pay out of pocket I would likely switch to pills which are fairly inexpensive to begin with.

[Nightbug]

Thanks everyone :> I'll have to see what the therapists in my area are like. Sounds like pills will be the way to go being inexpensive and all.

[MadelineB]

Injectable estrogen is the least expensive (for me, less than $50 for 6 months worth) and considered safer than oral for older women or anyone at risk for liver or cardiovascular events. You fill your prescription at a compounding pharmacy. If you order from a regular pharmacy, they will turn around and charge you $400 for the $50 prescription.