MyTransitionPartner v 2.0beta

finding the right provider is key to good transgender health

Transgender health is a relatively new and growing field. While all major medical and psychological associations affirm the normalcy of transgender identity, individual clinicians and practitioners may not have the appropriate training to deliver competent care. Because of this, accessing healthcare is more complicated for transgender individuals than for the rest of the general population. Below we provide general guidance for locating affirming providers.
  • What do I need to do?
  • Why trans health?
  • Insurance options
  • Questions to ask
  • Find a provider
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There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Every person's transition is different. Some people need to have every surgery and therapy available. Others find satisfaction with some less invasive procedures. There are even transgender people who do absolutely nothing in terms of medical transition. Regardless of which path you choose, as long as you are doing what is appropriate for you and makes you feel the most like yourself, then you are doing exactly what you need to do.

Next steps:
While many of the therapies and surgeries available to transgender people are invasive and expensive, they have a positive impact in many transgender individuals' lives. In fact the majority of transgender individuals (94%) report an improvement in life satisfaction and quality of life due to transitioning. Moreover, most transgender individuals (96%) report having improved well-being due to transitioning. Transgender individuals overwhelmingly report (96%) overall satisfaction from medically transitioning (hormone replacement, 97%; chest surgery, 96%; genital surgery, 90%). Transitioning also improves mental health, with research indicating that 9 out of 10 transgender individuals reporting improved personality post-transition. Moreover, 85% of transgender individuals report improved emotional stability.
Even with all of these scientifically demonstrated benefits, transgender healthcare is often not covered by private insurance. However, under the Affordable Care Act (2010) any federal funded insurance programs cannot discriminate against transgender policy holders. Some private insurance corporations do cover trans-related care, either in part or in full. Contact your insurance provider to find out what is or is not covered by your policy.

Next steps:
The relationship between any healthcare provider and the patient is very important, and it is essential that patients feel respected and affirmed by their healthcare provider. Unfortunately, many healthcare providers (even therapists) are not trained or have much experience with working with LGBTQ+ patients and may not be affirming. In order to reduce the negative effects of non-affirming care, here are some resources to find an affirming provider.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Healthcare Provider

  • Do you support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and their relationships?
  • What type of professional education do you have in working with LGBTQ+ patients?
  • What kind of training have you had in working with the LGBTQ+ population?
  • What is your experience working with LGBTQ+ patients?
  • What is your experience working with transgender/gender creative/gender nonconforming clients?
  • What kind of training have you received on gender identity?
  • Are you familiar with the WPATH Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People?

Next steps:
Unfortunately, there is not a comprehensive list of all therapists and doctors who are knowledgeable about working with trans patients. Here are several things you can do to find out. First, do a web search to see if any trans health or LGBTQ+ specific health care providers exist in your area. This is the easiest, and the rarest, way to find a provider. Second, check the websites of doctors or therapists in your area. Under doctor or therapist bios there should be a description of the specialty areas. Anyone specializing in LGBTQ+ healthcare should be a safe bet. Finally, you can contact any practice as specifically ask if any of their clinicians specialize or are familiar with working with LGBTQ+ patients. You can even be more specific and ask if they have experience working with transgender patients. Unfortunately, trans healthcare is still in its infancy, and you may have a hard time finding competent and compassionate clinicians, especially in rural areas.

Next steps:
External links are provided to assist users in their transition by connecting them to more specialized resources. Darcy Jeda Corbitt Foundation and MyTransitionPartner do not vet the resources we provide on this website. We cannot guarantee the helpfulness or quality of the external resources we provide. Content on the links provided are reflective of the opinions and experience of the content's author. Linked external pages do not imply endorsement.