How good is your medical coverage for transgender related services?

[ChrissyRyan]

How good is your medical coverage for transgender related services?  What does it cover?  Surgeries?  Medicine?  Doctor's visits?  Hair treatment?  Wigs?  Breast implants?  Voice training?  Psychological services?

Is it bought on the open market or paid for by a third party at least in part (such as by employment, self employment, retirement, Medicare, Medicaid, military/VA, union, etc.).  Or perhaps you live outside of the USA and you are covered by a government health care plan, such as in the U.K.

Please keep in mind the question asks for how good the transgender medical coverage is, NOT the fact that you may have HIGH deductibles and HIGH out of pocket limits to meet for any type of medical or pharmacy or psychological services.  That is another matter in itself.

I hope your coverage is reasonable and affordable.  If you live outside of the USA, I hope your wait times to receive care and medicines are reasonable under your government provided health care.

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

It is providing above average coverage,
I very seldom see billings for my doctor and other medical related visits.

[big kim]

Not bad though I waited 20 months to see Charing Cross  Hospital .  I'm British  and  we have the NHS.I had hoped  waiting  times  would have got better  than 1989. No real complaints  from  me apart from the  initial  wait

[Alana Ashleigh]

I'm very lucky to have very good health insurance where I work. My deductible is very low. My hrt consultation with PP, and my hrt prescriptions at my pharmacy was less than $30.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Department of Veterans Affairs puts limits on transgender care
Veterans who weren't already receiving transition-related medical care won't have access to it, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced.
Link to Source 🔗 [Link: nbcnews.com/nbc-​out/out-​politics-​and-​policy/va-​will-​no-​longer-​provide-​transgender-​care-​veterans-​rcna196802/]
NBC News - Jo Yurcaba
March 17, 2025, 4:30 PM MDT

Transgender veterans will no longer be provided hormone therapy through the Department of Veterans Affairs, unless they were already receiving such care through the department or the military, the VA announced Monday.

The reversal of the decade-old policy comes just days after the VA rescinded a 2018 directive that required the department to treat trans veterans "with respect and dignity." The directive required coverage of mental health care, hormone therapy, pre-surgery evaluation and care after surgery as medically necessary. The VA has never covered gender-affirming surgery for veterans.

The rescinded directive also required health care providers to address veterans by their gender identity, which included using their requested pronouns and preferred name.

In addition to ending coverage of hormone therapy for veterans who weren't already receiving it, the VA will also no longer provide gender-affirming prosthetics, wigs or letters of support for veterans to access transition-related surgery outside of the VA.

Veterans who receive care in VA facilities will also be required to use "intimate spaces," such as bathrooms and locker rooms, in accordance with their birth sex, the VA announced.

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The VA made the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria. The VA promised treatment. They were happy to provide Mental Health services and hormone therapy. They cancelled my voice training and my annual wig allotment. I asked three of my doctors (Primary, Psychologist, and Gynecologist) for surgery recommendation letters. All three said it was not a problem. They agreed that VA Policy cannot stop them from writing letters of any kind. Last month, I again asked for the letters. I still have not received any, and there is no copy of any in my medical records.

Yeah, thank us for our service. Lots of talk and very little action.

[KathyLauren]

I am very happy to have full government-funded medical care, including transition procedures.  My surgery was fully covered, including travel expenses.  I paid for my own therapy appointments, but only to get a shorter waiting list.  If I had been patient, I could have had that covered too.  My wife's pension plan covers 75% of prescription costs, so my HRT is mostly covered.

[Allie Jayne]

Australia has subsidised medications (for most HRT needs) and poor contributions (approx 10%) towards surgeons fees. Practically, all gender related surgeries are carried out in private hospitals, so paid insurance is needed to cover hospital costs, and patients need to cover gap fees (usually AUD$25K to AUD$50+K).

There is a public avenue to surgery, but the waiting time is over 5 years, and very few people actually make it. Those surgeries are carried out in private services and are subsidised. Doctors visits incur a gap fee, but those on government concessions are usually free.

Hugs,

Allie

[Lori Dee ✅]

It is interesting how various countries handle healthcare for their citizens.

We have a long way to go, but maybe someday everyone will have full coverage.

[ChrissyRyan]

The estradiol tablets is likely the least costly transgender generic medicine expense.

[ChrissyRyan]

I continue to pay $4 a month or $12 for 90 Estradiol generic tablets.  I get them every three months.

[big kim]

I continue to pay $4 a month or $12 for 90 Estradiol generic tablets.  I get them every three months.

Been getting free prescriptions since I was 60. All 60+ get free prescriptions in England

[ChrissyRyan]

Estradiol is the least expensive part of my medical care expenses. 

[Courtney G]

I'm fortunate to live in a blue state that mandates gender affirming care and also to have a good insurance plan through my wife's job. I've had to fight for it but I've gotten some reimbursement for electrolysis.

It seems highly unlikely, given the epic unpopularity of the current president, but I always remain fear that (a) my state might turn red and/or (b) fall prey to either the current anti-trans (untrue) propaganda at the top and drop the coverage mandates and/or © some major new anti-trans federal regulations will be put in place by our very biased Supreme Court.

The takeaway is to get items/procedures while and stockpile supplies if possible. I know of several people who had procedures booked through hospitals who backed out of providing services so as not to loose funding/due to political pressure.

[Lori Dee ✅]

All of my medical care is free through the VA. Medications are free (including hormones), but no other Gender Affirming Care is covered.

The battle continues...

[Athena]

Ontario is still pretty good. I get to see doctors pretty much as often as I want to. I didn't have to pay for my GRS, I just had to get to Montreal and back. I'm on disability so I don't have to pay for my meds. Though anything else I'm on my own, I have had some breast growth even though it isn't much so I can't get my B.A paid for.

The reason I say still pretty good is we have a conservative government in Ontario and they kind of want to mess with healthcare.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Basically non existant on the NHS without a 6 - 8 year wait now. Even then only covers HRT and bottom surgery. So I'm essentially self funding everything at a huge cost and debt! Most of my spare money goes to transition costs now.

C 😻

[Athena]

Yeah the I heard that the NHS is good unless you're trans then they are terrible. I may have heard wrong but do they still make you do 1 year RLE before you can even try for HRT ? That would have killed me, I was very reluctant to come out of the closet and only did so because most people saw me as female anyways.

[Paulie]

My employer's plan covered HRT meds just like any other med.  I had never checked but my impression is that it would have covered quite a bit.  I'm not going to find out now, I'll be on Medicare in a month or two.  My understanding is Medicare will cover some stuff it just requires a lot more documentation and approvals.

[NancyDrew1930]

It's pretty good.  My insurance covers my HRT 100%.  Most surgeries are covered by the government, although some, like breast augmentation are covered by insurance and I have a lifetime maximum that I can have covered.

[big kim]

Basically non existant on the NHS without a 6 - 8 year wait now. Even then only covers HRT and bottom surgery. So I'm essentially self funding everything at a huge cost and debt! Most of my spare money goes to transition costs now.

C 😻

I had hoped NHS waiting times had improved since I was referred in 1989 and had a near 2 year wait. Unfortunately it looks like it went worse