Do HRT letters/endo referrals expire??

[tyler_c]

This is what I was planning. (And hoping would work):

Go to a gender therapist for how many times till they give me my referral to an endo. I KNOW I can afford the therapy, so I thought I could have that letter and save up money for the rest? But will I need to go back to the gender therapist if it takes like a year to come up with enough for the blood tests and other medical expenses? (I HOPE it's not a year! It probably wouldn't be that long...)

I hope you understand what I'm getting at? I want start the very first step and get my referral, then be ready to pay for the more expensive things after I know I have enough?

[invisiblemonsters]

why not just save up enough money in one go THEN get the referral letter if you are worried? i don't think there is an "expiry date" on the HRT letter/endo referrals but i could be wrong. i don't remember how it went down with me, but i don't think there was an expiry date. i'm actually sure my therapist faxed the approval letter to my doctor, who then referred me to an endo himself to prescribe me my testosterone because he was not familiar with it all. from there, i went to another doctor to get my shots done once the endo wrote my prescription. now i do my own shots and see my endo every few months to get my prescription filled/have my levels checked. i do know my top surgery letter had an expiry date though (i think it was 2 years? maybe one).

all i know is, i know how anxious it is just to want to get the ball rolling but if you can't afford it if there is an expiry date, you don't want to screw yourself.

[FTMax]

I imagine the answer would depend on the doctor who would be prescribing your hormones. I don't think mine did. That you have a referral is one thing, but if it's old, who knows what's happened in that time? Who knows if you are still on the stable footing that the therapist thought you were when they referred you? That would be my point of view if I were a healthcare provider, but I'm sure there are others out there who would accept the referral at face value.

I agree with invisiblemonsters. I'd wait a bit and save up. Make a separate bank account for HRT related expenses, and once you have half the money you would need, go ahead and start with therapy. Mostly for the reasons mentioned above, but also to prevent you from ending up with therapy that drags on longer because they know you can't afford to move forward (I would hope a therapist wouldn't do that to you, but you never know).

[tyler_c]

How much should I have saved up? 

400?
1,000?
More than that? I don't think my insurance is gonna cover anything? So I'd need enough for therapy, blood tests, and anything else the endocrinologist or doctor needs to do? (Sorry if I seem completely clueless, I know what I'm getting into and want to follow through with it, I just have difficulty finding all the steps since I of course haven't done this before...)

[invisiblemonsters]

How much should I have saved up? 

400?
1,000?
More than that? I don't think my insurance is gonna cover anything? So I'd need enough for therapy, blood tests, and anything else the endocrinologist or doctor needs to do? (Sorry if I seem completely clueless, I know what I'm getting into and want to follow through with it, I just have difficulty finding all the steps since I of course haven't done this before...)

i can't help you there, i live in canada but the doctor will probably just want a blood test and nothing more. maybe do a general check up like weight, etc. but that doesn't cost anything. you could look into informed consent, which i don't think requires a letter from a therapist? i'm not sure how it works. we don't have that here i don't think, or at least it isn't the route i took. you should definitely see about your insurance and what it covers. especially if it covers the actual cost of medication, blood tests, etc. but the initial stuff BEFORE the actual hormones i think is what costs the most for americans, because i'm pretty sure testosterone is around the same there as it is here ($70, probably cheaper, for three months worth of T via injections). it's just the doctors stuff, tests and therapy that eats up the $$$$ from what i've seen.

however, i would recommend therapy over anything as the route to go. it might take a bit longer but you won't be jumping in with doubts.

[tyler_c]

i can't help you there, i live in canada but the doctor will probably just want a blood test and nothing more. maybe do a general check up like weight, etc. but that doesn't cost anything. you could look into informed consent, which i don't think requires a letter from a therapist? i'm not sure how it works. we don't have that here i don't think, or at least it isn't the route i took. you should definitely see about your insurance and what it covers. especially if it covers the actual cost of medication, blood tests, etc. but the initial stuff BEFORE the actual hormones i think is what costs the most for americans, because i'm pretty sure testosterone is around the same there as it is here ($70, probably cheaper, for three months worth of T via injections). it's just the doctors stuff, tests and therapy that eats up the $$$$ from what i've seen.

however, i would recommend therapy over anything as the route to go. it might take a bit longer but you won't be jumping in with doubts.

Thank you, I don't know why, but I'm starting feel hopeful... 

[Alexthecat]

The nurse at my endo was concerned when she saw my therapist letter was over 2 years old. The endo himself didn't care because I already had my top surgery and was "half way transitioned already". Might just have to ask them.

[FTMax]

You should really just call your insurance and ask. If you have insurance, you can get doctor visits and lab work mostly covered. It's just whether or not they will pay for your hormones.

[Mariah]

I would call and ask them, but I wouldn't think it would expire. Hugs
Mariah