Hi there,
Understand that some of this will vary slightly by the area you live in, dosage, etc. If you're paying 100% out of pocket, doctors can set their own prices and many will be willing to work with you. I had "bad" insurance when I started my transition, and they were still willing to cover my doctor visits and blood work. So you may be able to get something covered in that regard. Now to your questions:
1. How much is T?
- I pay around $75 for a 10ml vial, (24) drawing needles, and (24) injecting syringes. This lasts me around 4-5 months. I pay out of pocket for this, because my insurance will only pay for 1 month at a time and it is more convenient for me to pay for a larger vial than to drive back and forth to the pharmacy as needed.
2. How long does it take to get a prescription?
- It depends where you go. I found an LGBTQ clinic in my area that follows the informed consent model, so I was able to come in one week, speak to a doctor, and have blood taken, and come back a few weeks later to get my prescription. I had no therapy prior to starting T, but I transitioned at 25 after knowing I was trans for close to a decade.
3. How expensive are the therapy/doctor appointments?
- I only had therapy for my top surgery referral. I paid $320 for 6 sessions and a letter with an online therapist. My copay for my doctor's appointments is $30. I pay this every time I see her. If I did not have insurance, her office bills visits at $200. But they work on a sliding scale, so it would likely be lower than this. Blood tests are done prior to every doctor visit. With insurance, this costs me less than $15 each time. Without insurance, it is $550 for the tests my doctor orders. The first time, she ordered 3 additional tests so it was a little more expensive. My doctor requires that people see her quarterly for their first year on HRT, so 4x for the first year. The second year is biannually, so 2x per year. After that, it is once per year.
4. How long does a vial of T last till you need to buy a new one?
- This will depend entirely on the size of the vial and the dose. I haven't tracked mine from start to finish ever, but I use the large vial and it generally lasts me 4-5 months. They give me enough syringes for 24 weeks/6 months and I always have extra by the time the vial is out.
5. OVERALL, how much are the average expenses from the start of the first appointment, to getting the first dose of T?
- It is going to depend what options are available to you. If you can find someone who operates on the informed consent model, it will be cheaper because you won't have to pay for therapy. But that isn't often available in smaller communities. In my experience, with insurance, no therapy:
- Parking at doctor's office, first visit: $4
- First appointment copay: $30
- First blood tests: $36
- Parking at doctor's office, second visit: $8
- Second appointment copay: $30
- 10ml vial of T, syringes: $75
