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Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
Published on: January 10, 2025
Coverage Denied: Health Insurance Barriers to Gender-Affirming Care.
Anissa T Rogers1, Erik M P Schott2, Paola Osuna Berumen3
1Department of Social Work, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA.
Social Work in Public Health
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals face significant health insurance barriers to gender-affirming care. These obstacles include financial issues, complex policies, and limited access, hindering essential healthcare services for the TNB community.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Social Work
- Health Equity
Background:
- Transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals experience disproportionately high rates of adverse health outcomes and social disparities.
- Barriers to gender-affirming healthcare are a significant contributor to these health inequities.
- Understanding health insurance-related challenges is crucial for improving healthcare access for TNB populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the specific health insurance-related barriers encountered by transgender and non-binary individuals seeking gender-affirming care.
- To investigate how these insurance barriers impede access to necessary gender-affirming healthcare services.
Main Methods:
- A convenience sample of 96 clients from four organizations serving TNB clients participated in the study.
- Data were collected through a survey focusing on participants' experiences with health insurance and gender-affirming care.
Main Results:
- Key insurance-related barriers identified include financial constraints and difficulty navigating complex insurance policies.
- Cumbersome appeal processes, lack of information from insurance carriers, and limited availability of geographically accessible, insurance-supported facilities were also reported.
- These barriers collectively impede access to essential gender-affirming care for TNB individuals.
Conclusions:
- Health insurance policies and practices present substantial obstacles to gender-affirming care for transgender and non-binary individuals.
- Addressing these systemic barriers requires policy and practice interventions within social work and healthcare systems.
- Improving insurance navigation, policy clarity, and provider accessibility is vital for advancing health equity for the TNB community.
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