Just curious if anyone here knows of any.  I know that there's the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago, but that's a massive drive for me (nearly three hours, not including rush hour).  Why must it be so hard to find someone willing to prescribe hormones!?

Thanks for any answers!

if your looking for cheap thats your best bet. I drive 5 hours just to see them, im in Indiana.

I'm in Illinois, central Illinois. I had no problem finding a doctor willing to treat me. In fact, the first one I went to agreed to do it without even a therapist's letter. Currently, my primary care physician is treating me because I didn't like that first endo I went to. But still, it got me started. Either it was just easy for me or I can tell you that its actually a lot easier than you pry think it is. You won't get any names just surfing the web. You can either:
1. Contact your insurance company to get endo's names in your area
2. Tell your primary doctor and ask if he or she will do it or if they can give you a referral.
3. Use a phonebook/google to find an endo (this pry won't work as an endo will either need your primary to give a referral or will need to hear it from your health insurance.)

Quote from: Teela Renee on May 15, 2013, 07:33:04 AM
if your looking for cheap thats your best bet. I drive 5 hours just to see them, im in Indiana.

Wow, that's a crazy drive!  How do you like HBHC?  Are you satisfied with their caretakers?

Quote from: Hippolover25 on May 15, 2013, 04:15:54 PM
I'm in Illinois, central Illinois. I had no problem finding a doctor willing to treat me. In fact, the first one I went to agreed to do it without even a therapist's letter. Currently, my primary care physician is treating me because I didn't like that first endo I went to. But still, it got me started. Either it was just easy for me or I can tell you that its actually a lot easier than you pry think it is. You won't get any names just surfing the web. You can either:
1. Contact your insurance company to get endo's names in your area
2. Tell your primary doctor and ask if he or she will do it or if they can give you a referral.
3. Use a phonebook/google to find an endo (this pry won't work as an endo will either need your primary to give a referral or will need to hear it from your health insurance.)

Thank you so much!  I didn't even think to call my insurance provider, and I'm pretty sure transgender stuff is covered (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan).  I'll give that a try tomorrow

I live in Chicago and I'm only about 25 minutes away from the HBHC. That's where I go. I like it. I've never gone anywhere else. On every first and third Monday of the month there is an open group called T-Time. The next one is actually on Wednesday the 22nd because theres a board meeting on that Monday.

Quote from: Teela Renee on May 15, 2013, 07:33:04 AM
if your looking for cheap thats your best bet. I drive 5 hours just to see them, im in Indiana.

I've heard people driving a few hours to go there from T-time meetings. I'm fortunate that I live so close. That's true, they do have a sliding scale. I don't have insurance and only pay $20 for doctor visits and blood tests.

Quote from: SarahLJP on May 16, 2013, 10:09:30 AM
I've heard people driving a few hours to go there from T-time meetings. I'm fortunate that I live so close. That's true, they do have a sliding scale. I don't have insurance and only pay $20 for doctor visits and blood tests.

Im going to be going to my first T-time meeting most likely on the 22nd

Quote from: Teela Renee on May 17, 2013, 08:00:14 PM
Im going to be going to my first T-time meeting most likely on the 22nd

Great! I'll see you there then. There might not be very many people since it's not the normal day. I'm not sure how many people actually know about the temporary change. It starts at 6:30 and ends at 8:30.

Here is the transgender section of their site. If you haven't already seen it. I'm sure you have if you've been there before.

Quote from: Horizon on May 14, 2013, 04:43:48 PM
Just curious if anyone here knows of any.  I know that there's the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago, but that's a massive drive for me (nearly three hours, not including rush hour).  Why must it be so hard to find someone willing to prescribe hormones!?

Thanks for any answers!

I'm wondering the same thing about Howard Brown. It's not terribly far for me, but I got an uneasy feeling when I called. It seems like they handle a high volume and they cater to people who want HRT with no questions asked. What is the quality of medical care you get? From what I've seen there are some serious health implications to HRT and I want a doctor who will help me make an informed decision.

I like the idea of bringing it up with a general care provider, I may try that. But any help you can offer would be amazing.

Regan, I drive all the way from Kentucky to HBHC, I go to the one on N Halsted. Ya it does seem like a call center, but its much better once you actually go in. I was so nervous the first time I went in, but everyone there was super friendly and I just felt extremely comfortable. I can't speak for the other Dr's But ask for Abby, she's never made me uncomfortable or awkward in any way. And the quality is great, they monitor all your levels, at first every couple months to get the levels right, then at 6 months and yearly if that goes well. And they will inform you of everything, and talk threw all options, and you'll make the decision together.