Pride Month 2023: Know what Transgender People say about High Fun, Medicines and Health Insurance

People who identify as transgender or who identify as gender nonconforming commonly face exclusion and prejudice in healthcare settings. Nevertheless, in addition to other physical or mental health issues, individuals might need to visit a doctor in order to receive gender-affirming medications and/or surgical procedure(s). Few studies have quantitatively evaluated the relationship between delaying healthcare due to fear of discrimination, noninclusive healthcare, and mental or physical health in this population, despite a recent increase in research identifying barriers to reliable healthcare for this population and a lack of transgender competence among health and mental health providers. 

Transgender identity is not a mental disorder. However, compared to the general population, transgender people do have increased rates of sadness, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Among LGBTQ individuals, transgender people experience the greatest prevalence of mental health issues. Mental and physical health are intertwined, but many transgender persons lack access to the necessary medical care. Many transgender people report that they have been denied care or have received subpar treatment from medical professionals who oppose gender-affirming care. Many other people worry that they’ll receive insufficient medical care.