Hello there users of Susans and guests!
So I'll start by saying after a few years of waiting and getting used to the bus routes and such, I think I'm ready to start T. Only problems are actually finding a doctor!

Now I know some people require approval from a therapist (something like that) and a doctors note, so that's problem #1. I haven't seen a therapist for that in two years and don't want to see another therapist just to have someone ask me if I know what I'm doing like I already don't for a long time. I'm not ready to do that again, honestly if that's the case I'll literally look across states. So is there any way for me to check in advance without spending a lot of money to get a quick question answered?

Second off, I live in MN. The only places, that I know of, are all in Minneapolis and particularly the U of M. Yet, when I called, they charge $400 per meeting and put you on a waiting list that, again when I called, lasted until the end of the year. I called in March, they called back in September. By then I forgot what they were calling about, to be honest, and didn't have the money. They told me they can put me on it again, I said forget it due to the fact that it's so up in the air there's a huge chance I'm just taking up a spot for someone who has the money.

Speaking of money, I also don't have much. So if the place suggested costs a lot, I need to know. If it's over $200 per meeting, please don't mention it. That's my entire paycheck, maybe even a paycheck and half of the other one. And that's assuming I don't spend any of it, including food and my phone bill.

And finally, my insurance. It's BCBS Plus Of MN. It doesn't cover anything relating to transgender services, so I need to know all costs.

I know this is a lot, but this is the only place I feel I'll get actual personal, and reliable, information on exactly where to go and what to do. Google only helps so much and I like the more personal experiences.

If you have Blue Plus (the Medical Assistance HMO plan from the MN BCBS), while they don't cover gender-affirming surgery, they DO cover everything else: therapy, doctor visits, and hormones. The wait at the U. of M. does suck, but you should talk with them about your insurance coverage -- if that's the plan you have, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

You might also check out the Family Tree Clinic in St. Paul. They now offer HRT for trans folks, and they take MA and also have a sliding fee schedule. Nice "alternative" atmosphere, too, with a whole bunch of queer folk on staff..

I've had three different plans with BCBS (across 3 states now), and they've all covered doctor visits, lab tests, and therapy. They'll cover hormones with a prior authorization. The only things they didn't cover were surgery.

Since you've talked to a therapist in the past and are money-conscious, my advice would be to find a place that operates on informed consent. The clinic Tysilio linked is a good option. You'll save on copays for therapy and they probably have experience knowing how to code your visit so that it'll be covered by your insurance.

I'll do so. I thought it didn't since it was state covered and I thought I read on my plan that they don't cover it.


But this is all pleasant news, so I'll get onto it all. So far, I'm getting a meeting set up for April. It's a bit of a wait, but at least I'll, by then, hopefully have a car. So I'll look at the bright side here. Better than nothing!