How much does HRT cost in total? Considering that i am pre-transitioned, i need HRT and hair removal the most so i'm wondering what the cost of all this would be? Does any kind of insurance help cover it? What about medicaid or disability? I have issues preventing me from even attempting to transition right now though, as my dad probably wouldnt like it. Once i become more independent and not have to rely on him for things, it'll be more feasible to transition. Of course i dont want to lose his love for me or have him think i'm crazy but the dysphoria is getting to the point that i cant tolerate being viewed as a male anymore.

I'm not my dad's personal property though, i can do what i want, i am 30 years old. I'm under the assumption that many of us go through family troubles when transitioning, some remain pre-transitioned until it doesnt really matter what their family thinks or how they react. Of course it hurts to not have your family understand or support you and maybe their love for you is somewhat conditional in this instance. It indicates that they only will support you by what they want you to do and what they want you to be and expect out of you, but it should be opposite, if you want to do something that makes you happy, they should accept that and respect your choice. The issue of them thinking they never knew you or that you died as their falsely perceived "son" or "daughter" is erroneous as well, its a tragic thing that happens but if you knew you were transgender ever since you were young like myself, you were merely hiding it to some degree but your personality was still there so your family does not lose their child, they only lose the appearance of their child that was drilled into their minds when you transition which can be complicated and difficult for them.

Hello Sheila

Last year I was just a reader of many posts on Susans before I joined as a member in January this year.

I recall reading many of your posts on Transgender Talk Board and I am glad you have resumed posting. I know it is painful with family as my mum and dad never liked the way I am - knowing I am girl since aged 4 but born with the wrong body although I still loved them. Sadly they have passed away and I am now free to transition and started last year aged 62 with therapy then HRT and soon Electrolysis.

Obviously I cannot advise you on cost of HRT or BHR (Body Hair Removal) as I am a UK girl but as about half of Susans' members are from US, I am sure several will be along to help you.

Welcome back to posting and I wish you every success with your family and with HRT and with BHR.

Hugs

Pamela

I'm on my spouse's Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance here in Texas and all generic medications are free.  So my progesterone, estrogen and Spiro are all free. As for body hair removal that is out of pocket for me.  I've only done my face because I've let HRT take care of the rest. Laser took care of the dark hair and I'll have to have electrolysis for the white hairs I have.  Hope this helps some.

Hello again Pamela, you have a good memory, i did make many posts in the transgender boards about a year ago. My biggest and most active thread was the one debunking the myth that being trans is a choice.

Thank you for your welcome back and your wishing me of a successful journey, i wish you the same and my condolences for your mom and dad. I dont wish my dad would die because i love him but if he wasn't so deeply tangled up in my life as he is, i would be able to transition without so much stress, fear, depression, and anxiety.

Robyn, can you give me some of those free HRT medications? Of course i'm not being serious, though i do wish i could have someone to help me like your spouse...i only have dark hairs, no gray or white ones. However, i am rather hairy so i need to receive BHR as Pamela said.

Would you two and others like to see some pictures of me? Just keep in mind i am pre-transitioned so i do not look completely like a woman even though i am feminine and girly to some degree.

Oral HRT and blockers (eatradiol and Spironolactone) was running me about a dollar a day. Just estradiol after the orchiectomy has me down to fifty cents a day.*

I haven't done hair removal, so I can't give you numbers on that.

Hugs, Devlyn



*Keep in mind, these are the prices negotiated by your insurance company...and they want money. I only pay $15 a month on medicines. I pay $660 dollars a month for the medical insurance coverage that supplies those medicines.

Wow that is cheap, i thought it would cost thousands of dollars in which i cant afford right now without being on some type of insurance that would cover it or becoming a graphics designer.

Congrats on your success and the orchiectomy, you didnt go about transitioning halfway then, i plan to get surgery for my genitals too and GRS and/or sex reassignment surgery. I refuse to settle being half male and female though, i want to be completely female...

I am tired of the male body, have been for a long time, its not who i am, just a husk feigning to be male. I wont really be alive and have a vibrant life until i transition, until then i am a walking dead husk.

Oh i didnt see your post Edit Devlyn, sorry, what insurance are you on by any chance? If it's too personal information you dont have to divulge that.

If your careful where you buy your medication, $1,000  would probably more that cover doctor expenses and hormones after your started. The big expenses are the lab and possibly the doctor however I am down to a $100 a office visit. At Walmart, $20 every three months should cover your estradiol. I don't use Spiro but from what I understand, the large pills are expensive so your better off with 4 small pills than 2 large ones.

Quote from: hiddengirlsheila on June 28, 2018, 01:50:38 PM
Oh i didnt see your post Edit Devlyn, sorry, what insurance are you on by any chance? If it's too personal information you dont have to divulge that.

Not private at all, I'm  on a Blue Cross Blue Shield privately purchased plan. The monthly payments come to $7,920 per year, and I have a $7,500 deductible. So if things went haywire, I'd be on the hook for $15,420. Or to put it in terms folks here might like, I  can also have GRS for $15,420.

Quote from: hiddengirlsheila on June 28, 2018, 02:42:58 AM
I have issues preventing me from even attempting to transition right now though, as my dad probably wouldnt like it. Once i become more independent and not have to rely on him for things, it'll be more feasible to transition. Of course i dont want to lose his love for me or have him think i'm crazy but the dysphoria is getting to the point that i cant tolerate being viewed as a male anymore.

I'm not my dad's personal property though, i can do what i want, i am 30 years old.

Quote from: hiddengirlsheila on June 28, 2018, 01:20:35 PM
I thought it would cost thousands of dollars in which I cant afford right now without being on some type of insurance that would cover it or becoming a graphics designer.

Sheila

I understand both that you don't want to lose the love of your dad and that you need medical insurance which at present may be to expensive.

Are you seeking some other form of employment in order that you have more funds in order that you may purchase medical insurance either from your employer or outside perhaps? If so, I wish you every success in finding suitable employment. Do you live in the same house as your dad or just in the same geographical area? It may be such that without cutting yourself off from him of course, you may need to seek more independence or at least some privacy from him. But the priority for you I suggest is to make some sort of start on your journey.

I assume that like me for decades, you have dressed as female in private. If so, you have made a start. May I suggest you consider a gender therapist as second action point as you should find the right one most beneficial to discuss anything in your mind trans related and the therapist could also be useful in due course for your HRT.

I wish you every happiness on your journey even if you cannot start HRT or BHR as yet.

Hugs

Pamela

Pamela, i appreciate it thank you. I am already on a medical insurance policy, called medicaid here in the US. The employment i seek is to be a freelance graphics designer, i'll make a lot of money if i'm lucky so i might not need to worry about insurance. I'm going to design my own video games, and hopefully not take a position that i design someone else's ideas.

Well yes and no in regards to living with my dad. Technically i dont live with him because he is an over the road truck driver and away for 3 months at a time, i live by myself until he comes to visit for a week or two. This is where the privacy i want gets complicated, the independence i dont have is he helps pay for the bills and rent for my apartment and even buys me food but i'm trying to get on food stamps and disability insurance. When i do, i can become more independent and my dad even said this. When i get a better job like graphics design i'll be fully independent.

I wish i had financial support to transition from a roommate, a spouse, or from someone like many people on here have but i am alone.

I do dress up in woman's clothes in secret, since i am alone most of the time, it is easy to not get caught by my dad. I go to wal mart to buy the clothes, lipstick, makeup, ect...its very exciting when i dress up and i feel more like myself. I'm happier and it relieves some of the dysphoria but i do wish the world could see, i wish to be exposed as the woman i am but the risk of losing my dad is scary because i am close to him and if i lost him i'd not be able to pay the bills and rent.

A gender specialist therapist is something i am considering, the visits would have to be completely confidential and not allow my dad to know. They will probably set me up on the path to HRT and transitioning but how much would it cost? And does medicaid cover it? It's ridiculous to pay money just to talk to someone in my opinion.

Thank you Sheila for kindly addressing my points. I appreciate the position you are in.

Perhaps the only step you can take as you suggest (but only if you wish of course) is to contact Medicaid to verify which aspects of transgender care they cover.

I know the problem you refer to: you have and want privacy but you have and want to maintain a loving relationship with your dad; absolutely natural.

Good luck for the future.

Hugs

Pamela

Obviously i do wish to take a step in the direction of transitioning, i cannot remain pre-transitioned my whole life. Of course my dad wont be alive my whole life either, he will die before i do just like your parents. We have a similar situation it seems but you dont have to worry about your mom and dad anymore. Fortunately i dont have a big family and my dad is the only person i worry about coming out of the closet to. It doesnt really matter what my aunt and uncle might think and they dont have power and control over me like my dad does, they have their own lives to deal with. I have mine, its that simple. I hardly ever talk to them or see them too.

I will either contact medicaid or the gender therapist office and ask if they accept medicaid.

Thank you again Pamela sweetheart.

Hugs

Sheila

Quote from: hiddengirlsheila on June 28, 2018, 02:42:58 AM
How much does HRT cost in total? Considering that i am pre-transitioned, i need HRT and hair removal

        Sheila can't speak for facial electrolysis because costs vary widely depending on where you live and at what age you start. If talking about the cost of HRT meds only, without all the testing/consulting costs usually associated with them, it's hard to be specific without discussing particular type and dosing required but, without socialized medicine and paying cash, the best regimen I have found costs 'bout $2.00/day.

I first started in early 20's and, thanks to increased avail of manufacturers and generics, have seen prices actually falling? 

Haven't done electrolysis, so can't speak to cost Don't live where Kiera is, lucky girl $2.00 a day. Wow! My med cost is $2000 or more per year. That's just estrogen, no spiro or progesterone.

Nothing about this is cheap really.