Health Coverage and Care for Transgender People — Threats and Opportunities

Nearly two million American adults identify as transgender, many of whom seek gender-affirming care such as hormone treatment or surgeries. Gender-affirming care can be lifesaving: improving mental health, general well-being, and reducing the risks of suicide and transphobic violence. However, access to such care varies based on income and insurance coverage.

In a December Perspective article for the New England Journal of Medicine, Daphna Stroumsa (Ob/Gyn) and Anna Kirkland (IRWG) argue for protections of LGBTQ+ people in healthcare (and more broadly) on the basis of sex -- following the recent Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. In addition to legislative and policy fixes to improve gender-affirming care, they advocate for more expansive and accessible care for transgender people in the medical profession. Read the article or listen to an interview with Dr. Stroumsa to learn more.