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Health Coverage Guide

Getting Your Health Care Covered: a Guide for Transgender People

Getting your insurance to cover the health care you need can be difficult. The good news is that it should be getting easier. Many insurance plans have gotten rid of exclusions that single out transgender people, and trans people are protected from public and private insurance discrimination under federal law and state laws, including in Medicaid and Medicare.

But some insurance plans still make it hard to get coverage for transition-related health care, especially surgical care. 

The most important thing to remember is that your insurance should cover transition-related care. However, you may need to show your insurance company why the treatment you need is medically necessary for you, with letters from your health care providers.

If you are denied coverage or if your plan has an exclusion, you may also need to explain to your insurance company or employer why it is illegal discrimination to exclude medically necessary transition-related care.

Use this guide to help you navigate the coverage process.

This guide will be especially useful for people who have Medicaid or private insurance.

If you are on Medicare, in the military, or a veteran who receives services through the VA, make sure to check out NCTE's specific resources for these plans:

 

GO TO STEP 1: Learn What Your Plan Covers

 

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