Gender-affirming care
Navigating your health coverage isn’t easy, especially when it comes to gender-affirming care. Whether it's hormone therapy, surgery, or electrolysis, we can guide you through the process. Customer service can help you get the care you need. Call the number on the back of your Blue Shield member ID card.
Does your health plan cover gender-affirming care?
If your health plan is IFP or small group, you are covered for gender-affirming care. For other plan types, call the customer service number on your member ID card to see if your plan has coverage.
What gender-affirming care services are covered?
When eligibility criteria are met, coverage can include:
- Gender affirmation surgery
- Hormone therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Speech therapy
- Vocal modification surgery
- Electrolysis and laser hair removal
Your coverage will depend on the terms and conditions of your specific plan. Customer service can help you get the care you need. Call the number on the back of your Blue Shield member ID card.
Starting hormone therapy
If you’re considering or starting hormone therapy, here’s some medical information that can help.
What does hormone therapy do?
Hormone therapy causes changes that help your body align with your gender identity. Changes can be physical and emotional. Some people choose to transition through hormone therapy only. Others use hormone therapy with gender-affirming surgeries.
Estrogens and anti-androgens can:
- Increase breast size
- Redistribute body fat
- Soften skin
- Decrease body hair
- Decrease testicular size and erections
Testosterone is used to:
- Deepen your voice
- Increase muscle and bone mass
- Decrease breast size
- Increase clitoris size
- Lessen or cease menstrual cycles
- Encourage growth of facial and body hair
Talk to your doctor. Ongoing medical management may be required. Physical exams and lab tests might be needed to manage dosages and side effects.
Planned Parenthood is another resource that may be able to help you manage your hormone therapy.
How soon does hormone therapy take effect?
Hormone therapy may take months or even years to show the effects. These timelines can give you an idea of how long the changes may take:
< Return to LGBTQIA+ health overview
Customer service can help you get the care you need. Call the number on the back of your Blue Shield member ID card. Our representatives can help you find providers who understand LGBTQIA+ needs. They'll explain coverage, give guidance around preventive screenings, and more.
Findhelp offers resources that are either free or reduced cost. Resources include financial help, food pantries, and medical care. Search by ZIP code and then enter “LGBTQIA+” into the next search bar.
LGBT National Help Center
(888) 843-4564
Coming Out Support
(888) 688-5428
Youth (age 25 and younger)
(800) 246-7743
Senior (age 50+)
(888) 234-7243
One-to-one online chat
Trans Lifeline
(877) 565-8860
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or Text “START” to 988
The Trevor Project for Youth: Reach a Counselor
(866) 488-7386
Text “START” to 678678
Domestic Abuse
(800) 799-7233
Text “START” to 88788
Unless stated, certain resources linked or described above are provided by third-party entities, independent of Blue Shield. The opinions expressed by third parties through interactive features of the site are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of Blue Shield.
All information provided on this website is intended only for informational purposes and for your general knowledge and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment or for the care that patients receive from their providers. Nothing on this site is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your provider before beginning any new treatment.,
