Community Conversation => Transitioning => Therapy => Topic started by: whereto on December 22, 2015, 06:25:24 PM Return to Full Version
Title: HRT
Post by: whereto on December 22, 2015, 06:25:24 PM
Post by: whereto on December 22, 2015, 06:25:24 PM
i really want to start HRT but my problem at the moment is i'm currently living in the States and i'm not a citizen. i wonder how much it costs when you get started. or if anyone has any advice on the matter that would be great. i'm a FTM.
on a side note, i've been with my counselor for about 4 months now. she said she could write me a letter of recommendation to a good doctor she knows in town to get me started on HRT. it's just the matter of when do i decide. i'm very concerned about finance. i'd love to hear from you guys :] thank you.
on a side note, i've been with my counselor for about 4 months now. she said she could write me a letter of recommendation to a good doctor she knows in town to get me started on HRT. it's just the matter of when do i decide. i'm very concerned about finance. i'd love to hear from you guys :] thank you.
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: Jalynn on December 28, 2015, 01:04:29 AM
Post by: Jalynn on December 28, 2015, 01:04:29 AM
Is a councilor the same as a therapist?
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: FTMax on December 28, 2015, 03:18:15 AM
Post by: FTMax on December 28, 2015, 03:18:15 AM
You don't have to be a citizen here to receive medical care, you just have to have appropriate insurance coverage or be willing to pay out of pocket for whatever you need.
As far as costs go, you'd be paying for (1) doctor visits, (2) blood work, (3) testosterone, and (4) needles. This is all going to vary based on where you go, where you're located, etc. To give you a rough idea:
- My doctor visits are covered by my insurance. I pay $30 to see my doctor quarterly (every 3 months). If I did not have insurance, my doctor visits would cost $200. This office operates on a sliding scale though, so if I could not afford to pay $200 and I didn't have insurance, they would base the fee on my income.
- My blood work is done a week before I go to the doctor, every 3 months. With insurance, it costs $10 to run the tests my doctor requires. Without insurance, it would be around $550 per visit. These are not covered by the office's sliding scale, so while the visit would be cheaper if I couldn't afford it, blood work would still need to be paid for somehow. After 1 year on HRT, my doctor only requires annual visits with blood work, so this would go from being a 4x a year expense to just one.
- My testosterone is covered by insurance in 1 month dispenses. That is inconvenient for me, so I pay out of pocket for a multi-dose 10ml vial. It lasts around 5 months for me and costs around $50. The price fluctuates month to month.
- Needles are around $10 for a 24-pack of drawing syringes and a 24-pack of injecting syringes through the pharmacy at my doctor's office. You could probably save more on them buying in bulk online if you're able.
As far as costs go, you'd be paying for (1) doctor visits, (2) blood work, (3) testosterone, and (4) needles. This is all going to vary based on where you go, where you're located, etc. To give you a rough idea:
- My doctor visits are covered by my insurance. I pay $30 to see my doctor quarterly (every 3 months). If I did not have insurance, my doctor visits would cost $200. This office operates on a sliding scale though, so if I could not afford to pay $200 and I didn't have insurance, they would base the fee on my income.
- My blood work is done a week before I go to the doctor, every 3 months. With insurance, it costs $10 to run the tests my doctor requires. Without insurance, it would be around $550 per visit. These are not covered by the office's sliding scale, so while the visit would be cheaper if I couldn't afford it, blood work would still need to be paid for somehow. After 1 year on HRT, my doctor only requires annual visits with blood work, so this would go from being a 4x a year expense to just one.
- My testosterone is covered by insurance in 1 month dispenses. That is inconvenient for me, so I pay out of pocket for a multi-dose 10ml vial. It lasts around 5 months for me and costs around $50. The price fluctuates month to month.
- Needles are around $10 for a 24-pack of drawing syringes and a 24-pack of injecting syringes through the pharmacy at my doctor's office. You could probably save more on them buying in bulk online if you're able.
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: Laura_7 on December 28, 2015, 04:03:55 AM
Post by: Laura_7 on December 28, 2015, 04:03:55 AM
Well you might talk to the doctor.
Its possible they charge only for tests necessary for hormone treatment, and have other tests done as related to general health.
If you are a student for example it might be covered.
You might additionally ask at informed consent places.
Its possible they do not do much tests. Some are of the opinion tests only show free substances and not absorbed substances.
hugs
Its possible they charge only for tests necessary for hormone treatment, and have other tests done as related to general health.
If you are a student for example it might be covered.
You might additionally ask at informed consent places.
Its possible they do not do much tests. Some are of the opinion tests only show free substances and not absorbed substances.
hugs
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: whereto on January 01, 2016, 08:28:28 AM
Post by: whereto on January 01, 2016, 08:28:28 AM
Quote from: Jalynn on December 28, 2015, 01:04:29 AMyes, they're pretty much the same from what i believe. though, only licensed counselors will be able to diagnose and give writing letters and such. counselors are a bit general than focusing on one part like therapists :D
Is a councilor the same as a therapist?
wow FTMax. thank you very much for the information :DD it's very helpful. it gives me an idea of what to expect and what will come now. i really need to find some sort of insurance because as much as i can pay out of pocket, it's going to cost tons in a long run :/ and it'll bleed me out.
Laura_7, thank you thank you. i will keep it in mind to ask my doctor. i do have tons of questions right now. lol. and my kinda guardian is even more worried since he read lots of bad results on testosterone. but i give him assurance that those people take so-call T to get buff for their workout, they don't get monitored by a doctor kind of thing you know. lol
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: Laura_7 on January 01, 2016, 09:13:56 AM
Post by: Laura_7 on January 01, 2016, 09:13:56 AM
Quote from: whereto on January 01, 2016, 08:28:28 AM
Laura_7, thank you thank you. i will keep it in mind to ask my doctor. i do have tons of questions right now. lol. and my kinda guardian is even more worried since he read lots of bad results on testosterone. but i give him assurance that those people take so-call T to get buff for their workout, they don't get monitored by a doctor kind of thing you know. lol
If you have more questions just ask.
Many people start out testosterone with a lower dose for a few months.
It might help expand the larynx more naturally. There are a few trans men who want to keep a good singing voice, you can look up their blogs.
Additionally what you hear is often people having problems, maybe even out of proportion.
Many people being happy do not make headlines so much.
You might look up a few vids on youtube, there might be a few helpful voices there.
*hugs*
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: Deborah on January 01, 2016, 09:18:49 AM
Post by: Deborah on January 01, 2016, 09:18:49 AM
Quote from: whereto on January 01, 2016, 08:28:28 AMThey also drive up their T levels far above normal ranges. You will only raise yours into the normal range. So there's a huge difference between what is happening inside the body in the two cases.
i do have tons of questions right now. lol. and my kinda guardian is even more worried since he read lots of bad results on testosterone. but i give him assurance that those people take so-call T to get buff for their workout, they don't get monitored by a doctor kind of thing you know. lol
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: HRT
Post by: whereto on January 11, 2016, 01:57:16 AM
Post by: whereto on January 11, 2016, 01:57:16 AM
thank you Laura and Deborah. those info are very very helpful :D
i do read blogs and youtube a lot in the past, now not so much. it's like i know what i'm doing, what to expect and what not, let's just build my own road kind of thing. lol.
i have a very low voice for a female though. and i do have a quite obvious Adam apple ;o so i don't have to shut up being afraid it's spot on i'm a female. i'd pass 100% of the time which is very weird. i do think the voice, the adam apple give men the illusion this person is their kind too, even i have a girly face. i don't know what my voice would turn into when i start T because right now it's lower than most guys i know. lol. maybe it's a bless?
on the updating note, i got the referral letter from my counselor a few days ago. i know where the doc is at. i'll make an appointment with her and see what's next.
even though she doesn't take insurance at all, i asked my counselor about her :[[[ but she has the carecredit thing, which allows me to pay the amount within 12 months with no interest, just have to meet minimum payment each month. it sounds reasonable because she's a very experienced doctor about hormones treatment and mostly just cosmetic surgeries/treatments. usually for people with degrade hormones because of aging, but my counselor found her and started sending trans clients over. they get very good results and feedbacks. i'm really looking forward to it :] will keep you guys updated soon.
i do read blogs and youtube a lot in the past, now not so much. it's like i know what i'm doing, what to expect and what not, let's just build my own road kind of thing. lol.
i have a very low voice for a female though. and i do have a quite obvious Adam apple ;o so i don't have to shut up being afraid it's spot on i'm a female. i'd pass 100% of the time which is very weird. i do think the voice, the adam apple give men the illusion this person is their kind too, even i have a girly face. i don't know what my voice would turn into when i start T because right now it's lower than most guys i know. lol. maybe it's a bless?
on the updating note, i got the referral letter from my counselor a few days ago. i know where the doc is at. i'll make an appointment with her and see what's next.
even though she doesn't take insurance at all, i asked my counselor about her :[[[ but she has the carecredit thing, which allows me to pay the amount within 12 months with no interest, just have to meet minimum payment each month. it sounds reasonable because she's a very experienced doctor about hormones treatment and mostly just cosmetic surgeries/treatments. usually for people with degrade hormones because of aging, but my counselor found her and started sending trans clients over. they get very good results and feedbacks. i'm really looking forward to it :] will keep you guys updated soon.