So, recently I registered with Whitman-Walker Health. Since I haven't made any real money this year, I don't have insurance, but I figured that since there was a sliding scale, it was worth a shot to try and have proper care thru them.
So, I meant to goto the public benefits office the day before my appointment, but due to a massive amount of snow, I didn't actually get to go. So, I went and told the front desk on the day of my initial appointment, and they let the office know and they managed to move me up the queue so that I could get it checked before my appointment. It was very simple, I explained my financial situation and gave them the relevant documents and I was put on the sliding scale at 0% (I am very poor).
So then I get my basics taken, height, weight, etc and filled out a questionnaire that explained some of my medical history. Then I got to talk to my doctor while she asked me all sorts of basic medical questions, then she did a quick physical. She was not mean or judgmental about the fact that I was doing hormones on my own for a long time, and hadn't had a blood test in sometime. She was incredibly nice, and I was very impressed.
After this I reported to a therapist, for a mental health evaluation (required before hormones). The therapist was amazing, and very friendly, she put me at ease despite the fact that medical care is a bit nerve-racking to me. After asking plenty of questions, and getting a sense of who I was and why I wanted to transition, she recommended HRT (or rather the continuance of it) right then and there.
I then went back down for bloodwork, since that is required before anything HRT wise can be given. Since it had been a while since my last HRT screening and no protection had been used on my last partner, all the STD tests were also ordered, which was...well good, but a bit invasive I suppose. There was soooooooo much blood taken lol, I felt like I didn't have any left. After that I checked out and was scheduled for two weeks later, and I also talked to someone who told me I was cool to come in for the name and gender change clinic a few days before my followup appointment.
All in all, I was very impressed, and felt very well cared for. Right at the start I was asked my preferred name and pronouns, and no one messed up with them at all. Everyone was very respectful and treated me like the woman I am. I am very glad I am going to Witman-Walker
