Most health insurance policies and programs, including New York State Medicaid, specifically exclude transgender people from accessing care. This doesn't have to be the case for trans and gender non-conforming New Yorkers, especially those who are low-income and qualify for Medicaid.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah are being called upon to overturn New York State Medicaid's regulation excluding transgender people from accessing care. Medicaid is meant to ensure that low-income people have the care they need to survive, and no one should be denied that just because of who they are.
Transgender healthcare isn’t special healthcare. It's regular healthcare that non-trans people receive every day when they need it. Transgender health treatments are safe, effective and medically necessary for many transgender people. Unfortunately, healthcare is often denied to trans people due to misinformation and bias. By repealing the exclusionary regulation, Gov. Cuomo and Health Commissioner Shah can ensure that transgender people receiving Medicaid have the same access to essential care as anyone else.
With transgender people living in poverty at 4 times the national average, a staggering 19% of transgender people report lacking any form of health insurance, including Medicaid. The truth is that covering trans healthcare is affordable through insurance plans. In some cities and under many private insurance plans, transgender people have access to the healthcare they need, without increased premiums or surcharges. Find out more at www.srlp.org/healthcare.
