377 upvotes, 6 direct replies (showing 6)
View submission: A Legal Researcher's Guide to Trump Anti-Trans Executive Orders
I’m worried about my medicare and medicaid coverage for hormones and planned procedures.
Comment by JessicaPink703 at 21/01/2025 at 06:12 UTC
134 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Medicaid is run state by state, with liberal states going to be unwilling to back down to a directive to cut funding while red states might depending on litigation scene. CMS, which controls traditional Medicare but not Medicare Advantage, is subject to the whim of the President and Executive Orders. Those on Advantage plans are privately insured and are subject to their insurer's restrictions.
Comment by [deleted] at 21/01/2025 at 05:51 UTC
155 upvotes, 5 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by FakingItSucessfully at 21/01/2025 at 15:56 UTC*
8 upvotes, 2 direct replies
First thing, I agree with those who say hormones are more affordable than you'd think... if you can afford the doctor visit itself and get a prescription, you can also go to CostPlusDrugs.com[1] which is an online pharmacy started by Mark Cuban that doesn't take insurance because it only provides generic drugs at cost. All the basic MTF hrt drugs are available... estradiol tablets, spironolactone, progesterone. And you can get them all for 20-30 dollars a month last I checked.
Second thing, my state (Ohio) currently already doesn't allow using medicaid for transgender things, it's been that way for years now. But it's just being ignored (in my case anyway), all my coverage has continued uninterrupted the whole time, nobody but me has even mentioned being aware of that law. All the hormone therapy drugs are also prescribed for other things, for cis people, so the only way this kind of ban is enforceable is if they get the doctors to participate in enforcing it, doctors have to willingly refuse to use medicaid for trans people, otherwise the government wouldn't even find out. So everybody just stay calm about that part and hope that whoever you work with is willing to look the other way. If they aren't then do some shopping around to hopefully find a more supportive clinic.
ETA:
Spironolactone is primarily used for blood pressure in cis people
Estradiol is prescribed for menopause HRT in cis women
Progesterone is used as birth control in cis women
so to put it more clearly, any doctor can charge these meds to medicaid and the only way for medicaid or the government either one to know it's for a trans person is if the doctor or pharmacist voluntarily gives them that info, or refuse to charge the meds to medicaid.
Comment by CatIsOnMyKeyboard at 21/01/2025 at 06:13 UTC
16 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Same, only reason I was able to start transitioning was because of Medicaid. And now, just as I get close to being able to schedule bottom surgery, they're probably going to take it away.
My bottom dysphoria has only gotten worse with time and I've already been pushed to the point of near constant suicidal ideation. I can't stand living without the surgery any longer. No amount of therapy can help that. I feel like a fucking husk.
The only reasons I have for not doing it at this point are spite, given I'd just become another statistic the right wing can weaponize against us, and my partner. I can't stand the thought of hurting them like that and leaving them to deal with everything happening alone.
Comment by aphroditex at 21/01/2025 at 08:54 UTC
7 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Hormones are very cheap, and grey market options are just as valid as ex.
There are multiple subs that specialize in discussing grey market options like transDIY.
Comment by hiddengirl1992 at 21/01/2025 at 06:06 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This, plus my federally-funded sliding fee healthcare provider. Will they be blocked from even offering care?