Health Insurance Coverage for Transgender People, Access to

Transgender people sometimes need medical or surgical care as part of a gender transition. According to the Standards of Care described by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), medical and surgical care for gender transition is considered medically necessary when clinically indicated for an individual. However, health insurance plans in the United States often exclude transition-related health care, meaning that services related to a gender transition are not covered. The costs associated with medical and surgical care for gender transition, which can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars, may prevent individuals from getting the medically necessary care they need if they are not covered by insurance. This entry describes the current status of health insurance coverage for gender transition, barriers to ...