Look for a good hormone doctor in Southern California

[Jacqueline Herrer]

So out of the blue yesterday, my mom told me that she'd help me out with going to see a doctor to get on hormones after I told her I think our insurance covers it. Really surprising for me. Anyways I want to find a good doctor and start HRT asap, as I only have their insurance for less than a year. I have a therapist I've been seeing for at least a year that can write me a letter anytime I need it. So now I just need to find a good, supportive doctor who accepts private insurance. I had a good doctor at Loma Linda who was very supportive of Trans patients, but unfortunately she retired. I really don't want to get stuck with a crappy doctor who doesn't know what their doing, and isn't supportive. So if anyone can tell me about any good doctors to go to in Southern Ca, I will be sooo grateful! Also if anyone has any other info about health insurance and hormone coverage. I probably qualify for medicaid, which I though covers HRT. Otherwise are certain private insurers covering HRT? Thanks so much for any info you have. This has been a long time coming. I've been out and acting like myself for a year and a half now, and I've been pretty depressed about putting it off. That's for another post entirely though.

Thanks again ^_^

[Roni]

I am not sure what doctor to recommend as I only go to one and he is all the way in San Diego where I live. But, just wanted to say congratulations on starting hormones!!

Doesn't your therapist know of good endocrinologists in your area? I found my doctor through my gender therapist. Gender therapists who have been seeing trans patients for years should have a general idea on the best doctors to refer their clients to.

[Jacqueline Herrer]

I am not sure what doctor to recommend as I only go to one and he is all the way in San Diego where I live. But, just wanted to say congratulations on starting hormones!!

Doesn't your therapist know of good endocrinologists in your area? I found my doctor through my gender therapist. Gender therapists who have been seeing trans patients for years should have a general idea on the best doctors to refer their clients to.

Thanks, I'm really excited to finally start my journey ^_^ I'll check with my therapist but she's not really a gender specialist. She's only had one Trans patient before me, so I don't think she has a ton of resources in that way. I'll check with her though.

You drive all the way to San Diego? Wow that's pretty far. I'm in the Inland Empire, so that's waaaaay far away. Do you drive a long way as well? I'm sure it's worth it if you have a good doctor.

[Gina_Z]

I've heard that Dr. O'Dea is a good doctor in CA.
http://gendermedical.com/home/patientcare

[Jill F]

I see Dr. Richard Horowitz at Cedars in Los Angeles.

[Bea]

I see Dr. Horowitz as well. He is a very nice doctor, and will take the time to help you. He doesn't accept insurance for trans related issues though. His fees are roughly $75 a visit, unless you are having a shot or blood work, then it's more.

Congrats! 

[Jacqueline Herrer]

I've heard that Dr. O'Dea is a good doctor in CA.
http://gendermedical.com/home/patientcare

Thanks, you wouldn't happen to know if he accepts insurance do you?

[Jacqueline Herrer]

I see Dr. Horowitz as well. He is a very nice doctor, and will take the time to help you. He doesn't accept insurance for trans related issues though. His fees are roughly $75 a visit, unless you are having a shot or blood work, then it's more.

Congrats! 

Thanks. I don't really think I can afford that at the moment. I will definitely keep him as an option though. I think going to see someone who knows what they're doing is much better. Why doesn't he take insurance for Trans issues if insurance will cover it? Seems kind of silly. I know in the past insurance companies would immediately deny you for having a pre-existing condition. But since Obamacare and medicaid expansion I think that's changed in California.

[Jessica Merriman]

To my knowledge Medicaid does not cover where Medicare now does. Of course Medicaid has state to state differences.

[Bea]

Dr. Horowitz knows what he is doing. Look up Southern California Trangender Counciling. You'll see there is a team that knows what they are doing; Christine Milrod, Dr. Jeffrey Gandin. and Dr. Horowitz.

I understand if you can't afford it, but this group is knowledgeable never the less.

[Jacqueline Herrer]

Dr. Horowitz knows what he is doing. Look up Southern California Trangender Counciling. You'll see there is a team that knows what they are doing; Christine Milrod, Dr. Jeffrey Gandin. and Dr. Horowitz.

I understand if you can't afford it, but this group is knowledgeable never the less.

I'll certainly look into going to see him then. I know my insurance and prescriptions are separate, so perhaps the prescription side of things is different. Do you think it would be better to wait longer and see Dr. Horowitz? Instead of starting HRT with a local doctor, and then going to see him when I can afford it? I did manage to find a Dr. Robert Bonner on this page < https://sites.google.com/site/ietransinfo/ >
I was seeing Dr. Depee, but she retired before I managed to start HRT.

Thanks for all the info ^ _ ^

[Gina_Z]

Thanks, you wouldn't happen to know if he accepts insurance do you?

Oh I don't know. I have not gone to him (yet!)

[KatrinaLynne]

Dr O'dea does not accept insurance. But he may give an invoice so you can get re-embursed  for the visit. You will have to ask.  My insurance won't cover the pellets. But will cover the visit.  It is my understanding that the pellets will give better and quicker results. If you read his page you will not want to go anywhere else.

[Bea]

I'll certainly look into going to see him then. I know my insurance and prescriptions are separate, so perhaps the prescription side of things is different. Do you think it would be better to wait longer and see Dr. Horowitz? Instead of starting HRT with a local doctor, and then going to see him when I can afford it? I did manage to find a Dr. Robert Bonner on this page < https://sites.google.com/site/ietransinfo/ >
I was seeing Dr. Depee, but she retired before I managed to start HRT.

Thanks for all the info ^ _ ^

It has been over two years since I have started seeing him. But here is how it works , your first visit will be a consultation and a flat fee of roughly $400 (it may have gone up) this should cover your initial blood workup and report. The second and third visits will be roughly $75 or $85 depending on whether he gives you your first shot of estradoil valerate. He will give you the different options of taking estrogen, which are pills, a patch, an intra-muscular injection, or "buttons" (which are time release tablets placed under the skin every 90 days). Of all the choices, I chose the intra-muscular injection as it carries a lower risk of DVT and is probably the lease expensive. I pay roughly $45 for a 90 day supply of injections (you only inject once every two weeks). The other prescriptions he has given me, like Avodart and progesterone were covered by my insurance and very inexpensive.

So every 90 days when you go for a check up you would pay $75 to Dr. Horowitz, then another $45 to the pharmacy in Nevada (Anazao health) for the estradoil Valerate, then whatever the co-pay is for your other prescriptions; I pay $15. So... your quarterly costs are roughly $135 (for the inject-able option). Once a year, if not more often you will need blood work which is going to run roughly $200, bringing the total annual costs to roughly $740 or $62 a month.

Considering electrolysis costs $65 and up for each hour, I would say the hormone treatment is very inexpensive in comparison.

[Eva Marie]

Bea - he charges $600 now for the initial blood test.

[Roni]

Wow. $600 for a blood test?

As I mentioned earlier, Jacqueline, I see an endocrinologist here in San Diego. I live all the way down here though so I don't ever have to travel far when seeing him. His name is Dr Jeffrey Sandler and his clinic is situated in Hillcrest, San Diego, LGBT capital of San Diego city (52% of the population have reported being LGBT), so Dr. Sandler definitely caters to a lot of trans people like ourselves. He even stated that I would end up being a "cutie" once the hormones have had the chance to work their magic, so he is definitely trans friendly.

He only charged me $130 for my first visit and then I paid $60 for my blood test at a separate facility. So it wound up being only $190. Plan on seeing him every three months. Pretty cheap alternative to drive down here if you don't want to end up paying $600 for a doctor in LA. Good luck, girl!

[the bore worms]

I can attest to the $600 although he literally spends 90 minutes with you and that includes the initial labwork and a few other minor tests, I think.  Since then, he's met me at (slightly) off times to pull a quick blood sample and is generally pretty accommodating and available.  There are cheaper options, but I don't know that you'll find a nicer guy to guide you.

[KateConnors]

I see Dr Dorothea Spambalg in Pasadena.  She's awesome, calls it like she sees it, is a wonderful caring person and takes insurance no problem.

[Eva Marie]

I found this link with some information about providers in your area that might be useful to you:

http://concertbflat.tumblr.com/post/75882946526/hi-im-having-a-hard-time-finding-a-affordable-trans

[KayCeeDee]

You might try Volunteers in Medicine. I have heard that in Indio they are doing trans stuff low/no-cost.