Everyone deserves equitable healthcare to live happy and healthy lives – it’s a human right. Continue reading for information about navigating the healthcare system, or skip to the bottom for my resource list. Looking for mental health resources instead? Click here.

While not a focus of this article, it’s important to note that health is holistic. Health isn’t the state of just not being sick – it is a commitment to take care of all aspects of your health, including your physical health, mental health, social health, environmental health, etc.

Types of Medical Healthcare

The human body is complex, which is why so many different healthcare fields exist. Providers spend years learning their practice to give the best care possible to their patients. However, knowing the difference between types of providers helps – you don’t need to go to a specialist whenever you want a flu shot.

The healthcare provider that you see most often is likely a primary care provider. These individuals serve as the first point of contact for most people’s health needs, usually employed at community health clinics, offices, and hospitals. Primary care providers (PCPs) cover a variety of health concerns to improve access to continuous and comprehensive care in their communities. From vaccinations and yearly checkups to routine screenings, PCPs manage the daily health concerns of the public – referring out to specialists as needed.

For health concerns that can’t be treated easily by a PCP, patients are directed to specialists who have additional training in their field. Most specialists work from private practices, clinics, and hospitals to see individuals as needed. In the United States, individuals often need to be referred by a PCP before they can be seen by a specialist – although there are exceptions like gynecology specialists generally don’t need referrals. The referral system ensures patients see the correct specialist for their condition, as well as make sure their treatment will be covered by insurance.

As noted above, a majority of preventative services can be done with a PCP – and many can also be accomplished through a retail clinic as described below. Preventative healthcare refers to free or low-cost services like immunizations, cancer screenings, and STD/HIV testing. PrEP, birth control, diabetes screening, and depression exams also fall under preventative care, which must be covered by all healthcare insurance plans in the US – even if you haven’t met your deductible. However, preventative care is only able to be covered for free or low cost through your plan if you get it from a PCP or another approved provider.

Walk-in clinics located in retail stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies are called retail clinics, convenient care clinics, or nurse-in-a-box. Retail clinics are usually operated by physician assistants and nurse practitioners rather than fully fledged doctors, providing low-cost care for uncomplicated minor illnesses and preventative services. Compared to PCPs, fewer services are provided for free or covered by insurance – but the quantity of retail clinics keeps their costs substantially low and accessible even when community health clinics and hospitals aren’t available. Common US retail clinics include CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart, and Kroger, which offer a range of care for colds, flu, allergies, burns, sprains, UTIs, health screenings, physical exams, and vaccinations.

Healthcare services provided virtually, such as through video call, remote monitoring, or the phone, are known as telehealth. Telemedicine may not be fully available through all medical providers and conditions, but allows patients to save time and resources when physical visits aren’t doable. Most providers offer telehealth in some fashion, such as allowing patients access to virtually message their providers. As such, telehealth is a substitute for PCP and specialist care – services like vaccinations and laboratory exams require in-person visits.

Occasionally, care is needed due to an emergency even if there isn’t time to see a primary care provider. PCPs and specialists require appointments and aren’t viable for immediate or life-threatening emergencies. Urgent care clinics serve as the middle ground between PCPs and emergency care and are the best option for minor illnesses, injuries, or other conditions that can’t be resolved by a retail clinic and can’t wait for an appointment. These clinics have set hours where anyone can walk in for care, including basic labs and X-rays, with shorter wait times and lower costs than emergency departments. In comparison, emergency departments treat life and limb-threatening health conditions for anyone who needs immediate medical attention. They’re staffed 24/7 with physicians, nurses, and specialists best suited for severe situations – but can be notoriously expensive in the United States. A number of PCPs have same-day care options for non-emergencies that don’t require an appointment similar to urgent care clinics.

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What Exactly is Healthcare Insurance?

Even in countries with universal healthcare, medicine isn’t free regardless of whether the patients have to pay themselves or it’s covered by government taxes. Universal healthcare refers to health systems that provide care to all people regardless of their ability to pay – but there are four major types of health systems. The majority of countries use one of the major systems, while the United States uses all four in some capacity.

Most often referred to as socialized medicine, the Beveridge model was created in the United Kingdom through the work of Sir William Beveridge and Nye Bevan through the National Health Service (NHS). Reformed welfare services and the NHS were promised in Bevan’s successful campaign against Winston Churchill to give British citizens better medical treatment through taxation. True Beveridge models provide healthcare almost entirely through the government and taxpayer dollars, where medical facilities are government-owned and providers are employed by the government.

Societies with Beveridge models usually see healthcare as a responsibility of the government the same way roads and schools are funded by the government. Economically, the government’s service removes competition within the healthcare market and purposely keeps costs low. Since the Beveridge model provides treatment to all citizens regardless of income, it’s one of the main universal healthcare systems used throughout the world. Countries that use some form of the Beveridge system include the United Kingdom, Spain, Cuba, and New Zealand. In the United States, we use the Beveridge model to operate medical services within the Department of Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Service, and Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The Bismarck model earned its name through the work of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who created a new healthcare system after a series of economic crises in the German Empire. In true Bismarck models, healthcare is privately funded through insurance companies – which are paid by employers and employees through mandatory payroll deductions to reimburse private medical facilities for their care. In the majority of Bismarck systems, a percentage calculated by the government is taken from citizens’ income – which most citizens use for the public healthcare system managed by non-profit organizations to keep medical costs low. Additionally, the government’s involvement in the calculation prevents price inflation in the market.

Most Americans use a version of the Bismarck model, where commercial healthcare insurance is provided by an employer to finance treatments. Other countries that use the Bismarck system include Germany, France, and Japan. Unlike other countries with the Bismarck model, a strong criticism is that the United States does not keep medical costs low due to the overbearing market commercial insurance has on treatment due to the lack of government involvement.

Another version of socialized medicine comes from the national health insurance model, which combines the Beveridge and Bismarck systems. In the NHI model, the government funds medical treatments through taxation (like the Beveridge system) at mostly private healthcare facilities (like the Bismarck model). NHI is another type of universal healthcare since the government is single-payer and does not use commercial insurance.

Canada is the world’s primary example of the NHI model, although many other countries use the NHI system in some capacity rather than true Beveridge or Bismarck models like South Korea, Australia, and Italy. Americans who use Medicaid or Medicare operate under an NHI model since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is the single-payer government agency that covers medical treatments provided by private healthcare companies.

In low-income countries, there are very few resources to provide its citizens with strong healthcare – medical treatment is only given to citizens who can pay to receive that care, and no care is given to those who cannot afford it under the uninsured healthcare model. Some exceptions exist, such as free vaccines or charitable nonprofits that provide services – but comprehensive care is limited to those who can afford it.

Countries that operate on the uninsured healthcare model include Nigeria, Armenia, and Cambodia. Millions of Americans also fall under the uninsured model and are expected to pay for medical care at clinics, urgent care centers, pharmacies, and laboratories unless they have another form of insurance.

Okay, but how do I navigate insurance?

Compared to other countries, healthcare is disproportionally more expensive in the United States. The US is the only high-income country in the world that does not guarantee health coverage to all its citizens, relying on the majority of people to purchase commercial insurance – which is notorious for denying care, regardless of how medically necessary it may be.

Additionally, American healthcare insurance does not promise fewer medical bills since commercial insurance uses contract loopholes like deductions – a minimum amount of medical expenses individuals have to pay every year before insurance companies will begin covering the cost. Breaking an arm in the United States will cost you up to $16,000 if you don’t have healthcare insurance – and may still be pricey with insurance. In any high-income country, the cost of breaking that same arm can be as low as zero. Outside of the United States, costs only accrue if you choose to use a private doctor rather than the public health system. This comparison can be made to any medical procedure – like childbirth, cancer treatment, diabetes management, abortion services, surgeries, and so forth. Worst still, the United States managed to have the worst quality of healthcare among high-income countries.

NOTE: Individuals can be covered by more than one healthcare policy as listed below. In other words, having commercial healthcare insurance does not prevent you from also having WIC if you are eligible under your state’s standards. Young people can be covered by both their parents’ healthcare insurance as well as Medicaid. Generally speaking, people are encouraged to use and apply for as many benefits as they are eligible for.

Medicaid: Healthcare for Low-Income Households

Each US state and territory has its own requirements for Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides free health coverage to low-income individuals. The Modified Adjusted Gross Income formula calculates the maximum income a household or individual can make and still qualify for Medicaid, which uses various income types like salaries, investments, pensions, and child support to determine someone’s need level for where they live.

In 10 US states, single adults are not allowed to qualify for Medicaid – only families, the elderly, and those living with disabilities can qualify for Medicaid. These states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming – which are ironically some of the poorest states in the country that offer very few opportunities for individuals to grow their economic status. Every other state qualifies individuals for Medicaid if they make up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level – making the maximum income limit $20,782.80 for 2024. For each additional member of the household, like children, the maximum limit increases. Additionally, citizenship status is not necessarily required eligibility – some states like Colorado, Illinois, California, and Georgia cover immigrants based on their own qualifications. Click here to search for Medicaid results relevant to where you live, or visit the federal Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard to review your state’s Medicaid policies compared to other states.

CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM (CHIP)
CHIP is a Medicaid program that extends federal and state funds for comprehensive health insurance for uninsured children – originally implemented to cover American youth with household incomes too high for traditional Medicaid but too low to have commercial insurance.

As with Medicaid, states are given flexibility to design their CHIP programs and the eligibility requirements to apply. Most states begin CHIP coverage when families make 133% of the Federal Poverty Limit, although there is a great deal of range compared to Medicaid – eligibility changes whether the child is an infant, between the ages of 1 to 5, or 6 to 18 and some states like New Mexico, California, Iowa, and New Hampshire cover families up to 380% of the FPL. CHIP-eligible households can still be eligible for traditional Medicaid if they meet their state’s standards. Similar to Medicaid, immigrant status does not affect CHIP eligibility if state requirements allow non-citizens to apply.

Unlike commercial insurance (which covers youth under their parent’s insurance until age 26), young people lose CHIP and become uninsured upon reaching 19. On their nineteenth birthday, young people are able to apply for general Medicaid coverage if they are eligible under their state’s requirements or pursue an insurance alternative.

WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal program through the US Department of Agriculture to provide healthcare and food assistance to low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under the age of 5. All states must cover households making between 100% to 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit, although many states automatically cover people already using welfare programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and TNAF.

Caregivers like fathers, grandparents, and foster parents are also eligible for WIC programs since WIC aims to support any and all major caregivers with young children. Pregnant people are able to be covered by both CHIP and WIC, as well as Medicaid – women are covered by either CHIP or Medicaid in addition to WIC in all states beginning at 138% of the FPL. Like Medicaid and CHIP, immigrant status does not affect WIC eligibility if state requirements allow non-citizens to apply.

MEDICARE
Not to be confused with Medicaid (as defined above), Medicare is a federal healthcare program that provides care to both people with disabilities as well as older people ages 65 and older. Like Medicaid, Medicare is managed federally by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – but unlike Medicaid, it does not have any income requirements. All individuals who meet either the age or disability requirement are eligible, although the amount of assistance given can vary based on household income.

As a federal service, Medicare covers hospital care, outpatient services, private plans, and self-administered prescription drugs through well-defined program guidelines. Since it is not run through individual states, Medicare is less flexible than programs like Medicaid and CHIP but has less discriminatory variation. Similar to the above programs, non-citizens are eligible for Medicare if they meet the basic Medicare requirements and meet a residency requirement of lawfully living in the United States for at least 5 years.

Special Status: Veterans, Native Americans, and Prisoners

Unlike the programs in the previous section, which use the National Health Insurance model, healthcare coverage for veterans, Native Americans, and prisons use the Beveridge system.

VA HEALTHCARE
Individuals who have served in the armed forces and have not received a dishonorable discharge are eligible for healthcare offered through the US Department of Veterans Benefits. Generally, veterans become eligible after serving at least 24 continuous months or serving prior to 1980. Current service members are eligible for TRICARE, the healthcare program run by the Department of Defense. In both programs, family members of active service members and veterans are eligible for coverage. There are no minimum income requirements for eligibility, given that veterans and their families meet the standard service needed for coverage.

VA healthcare provides comprehensive coverage to veterans, similar to Medicaid. As a Beveridge model of healthcare, veterans have the choice to use their public benefits and healthcare coverage or choose a private provider – typically, VA healthcare only covers providers through the public system as approved by the government but gives veterans the ability to choose private professionals using other coverage like commercial insurance or Medicaid.

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES
All Native Americans who are recognized within a Federally recognized tribe are eligible for healthcare coverage through the Indian Health Service, a federal agency that operates within the US Department of Health and Human Services. As a Beveridge program, individuals are allowed to receive alternative coverage for non-IHS providers similar to the VA healthcare system. Once approved by the IHS, individuals are fully covered for services regardless of income. However, individuals lose their IHS eligibility if they are not residing in an official IHS district, such as a reservation – which denies Indian Health Services to many Native Americans who live in urban areas.

INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
Individuals currently serving a term in prison or jail are classified as incarcerated, which prohibits them from using Marketplace healthcare insurance – the commercial standard for healthcare in the United States. Further, while inmates can apply for Medicaid coverage, they cannot use Medicaid for any medical care while incarcerated.

Incarcerated people are one of the few groups in the United States entitled to a protected constitutional right to healthcare, as determined by Estelle v. Gamble (1976). This means that all individuals in US jails or prisons are entitled to healthcare services – however, the quality of that care varies drastically since there are no standards on what minimum healthcare must be provided for free.

Most facilities, even if they are accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care or the American Correctional Association, enforce copays on inmates which are disproportionally high compared to the amount of income incarcerated people can make while serving time. On average, inmates make between $0.25 to $0.86 per day – while a single sick visit might be $13, which deters most inmates from receiving care. The federal law only states that jails and prisons must provide care based on previous court cases, and does not regulate its quality or cost – to further case law, more lawsuits must be filed, which are intentionally difficult for incarcerated individuals to pursue.

The Marketplace: Healthcare for America

The Healthcare Insurance Marketplace, also known simply as the “Marketplace,” is the primary place most Americans find commercial healthcare insurance if they do not fall into one of the above categories like Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, IHS, VA, TRICARE, etc. It originated from the 2010 Affordable Care Act or Obamacare – while it has been altered slightly, it gives millions of Americans the ability to choose their coverage. The Marketplace also determines eligibility for other government healthcare programs, such as Medicaid.

The Marketplace displays all available insurance options based on demographics and income status to users, listing available benefits alongside prices. Anyone at least 18 years old and not currently incarcerated is eligible for the Marketplace as long as they are lawfully living in the United States and not eligible for Medicare. As commercial plans, each insurance has individual contracts with varying deductibles, copays, and limitations.

Similar to Marketplace insurance, the majority of US employers are required to offer their employees private healthcare insurance options. Like Marketplace plans, private insurance plans vary in nature – the primary difference between them is that anyone can use insurance through the Marketplace, while employers use private plans to give very similar options to Marketplace coverage. Only small employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees can opt to not provide a private healthcare plan to their staff, according to the Affordable Care Act.

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Common Healthcare Barriers

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Finding a Doctor Who Works

Everyone deserves to see a primary care provider, and they deserve to feel safe and respected while doing so. A substantial proportion of the US population has anxiety regarding going to the doctor, which pushes them from receiving preventative care on time. While most people find doctor’s offices nerve-wracking because of the potential of hearing bad news, marginalized people like people of color and LGBTQIA+ people get anxiety due to previous bad experiences.

It’s easier to find affirming doctors compared to LGBTQIA+-friendly retail clinics: even the smallest American towns (such as those with populations with 1,000 or fewer) have their own Reddit pages and Facebook groups. Doctors and providers that work from community clinics have detailed reviews through sites like Google, and research into their policies is relatively straightforward. To find a provider this way, you can either search through your healthcare insurance options and check the reviews of each available option, or find a recommended doctor by other people local to your community and then see how your medical coverage can apply.

This is not the case with retail clinics, since they’re normally large corporations with nationwide brand names – Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart have official policies that forbid anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination when seeing patients, but it’s harder to keep track of the actual practices of local stores. The staff that work at retail clinics have little to no continuous training requirements compared to other providers and sometimes just need a high school diploma or certificate for their role, which associates them and retail clinics with a lower quality of care and personal relationship than traditional providers. While it’s always difficult to report harassment, large-scale organizations are notoriously so; the assumption is that any retail provider can be discriminatory, and will continuously get away with it until someone gets through the red tape involved in reporting their ill behavior.

It’s common practice to prepare before a medical appointment, especially if you have anxiety around it. Write down questions you have and list any concerns you’re having. You are fully allowed to ask about procedures, tests, and practices – and your doctor should take time to listen to your concerns. Going back to the above point, reviews matter: anyone can potentially provide healthcare if they have the time and resources to get a license, but not everyone has the compassion necessary to be a good doctor.

You’re allowed to bring loved ones to your appointments, regardless of whether it’s a family member, significant other, or close friend. As long as they have your permission, it’s up to you if they stay in the waiting room or come with you to the doctor’s office. Having a loved one present while seeing a provider can bring comfort, accountability, and support – they’re there with you in the event you experience discrimination and can repeat any questions or concerns you have.

Make medical appointments during times that won’t increase your stress. If you’re prone to being anxious at the doctor, avoid trying to squeeze in your visit during your 30-minute lunch break and opt for a less busy time.

You have the right to hear a second opinion about major medical procedures and diagnoses. Each doctor is an individual with their own expertise, so it’s not uncommon to look for a second opinion if your symptoms aren’t improving or if your regular provider is unsure about what treatment options are best. Even though most providers get frustrated by people misleading themselves through online self-research, almost everyone searches symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments on the internet – and your provider should listen to your concerns and questions.

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Resources

340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal initiative to disperse national funding to provide comprehensive health services and medications. The program intended to provide deep discounts and financial assistance to hospitals serving vulnerable communities by mitigating inflated prescription drug costs. However, retail pharmacies have contracted with 340B hospitals to exploit the program and charge further increased costs to consumers while profiting from the program’s discounts.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is a large organization that sets medical standards for family medicine and primary care. The Neighborhood Navigator coordinates and connects patients with over 40,000 social services via their zip code database, ranging from programs related to food, baby supplies, housing, transit, education, employment, and more.

American Academy of HIV Medicine is an independent organization for healthcare professionals dedicated to HIV care and prevention. In addition to credentialing, the Academy offers up-to-date educational materials, data, and guidance on HIV/AIDS.

American Public Health Association is a professional membership and advocacy organization for healthcare providers in the United States, dating back to its founding in 1872.

CancerCare serves as the leading organization in the United States that offers free, professional support services and information to the public on cancer. CancerCare manages support groups, counseling, resource navigation, educational workshops, publications, and financial assistance – as well as an advice column for users to post cancer-related questions.

CaringInfo, a program under the National Alliance for Care at Home, is an education and resource hub for end-of-life care. The organization provides support tools for patients, their families and caregivers, and healthcare professionals needing assistance navigating serious and terminal illnesses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the official national public health agency of the United States that operates under the Department of Health and Human Services to control, prevent, and treat disease, injuries, and disability in the general public. The CDC is staffed by the current presidential administration to tackle ongoing health concerns and educate the American public.

Drugs.com is a pharmaceutical encyclopedia that provides free information on drugs, side effects, and interactions – as well as a pill identifier and a phonetic search engine. It’s considered the most widely visited and up-to-date site for medication information.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) is the national agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide healthcare to rural communities, which include approximately 61 million people.

Get Covered Connector is a free tool for users to find assistance regarding their healthcare insurance through nonprofits and community coalitions local to their zip code. The site lists organizations available by telephone, virtual appointment, and in-person visits as well as whether the organization is considered LGBTQIA+ friendly.

GLMA Health Professionals is the world’s largest and oldest association of LGBTQIA+ healthcare professionals. The Association has free educational materials and training for providers, as well as a detailed online directory of LGBTQIA+ friendly providers at lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org.

GoodRx is a free website and mobile app that provides users with discounts for prescription drugs at over 75,000 pharmacies across the United States, including major retailers like Walmart, CVS, Costco, and Kroger.

Greater Than AIDS is a program under KFF (formerly known as The Kaiser Family Foundation or Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation) to provide the latest information about HIV and other STDs to underserved populations. Under its partnership with the CDC, Greater Than AIDS connects users to HIV services for testing, prevention, and treatment, as well as other related conditions like Mpox.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is a national agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services to improve healthcare access to individuals considered medically vulnerable, isolated, or otherwise uninsured. The HRSA operates a number of programs to help individuals receive medical care, which are also included within this section like Healthy Start and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Healthy Start is an HRSA program for maternal and child health that connects new mothers with services for transportation, education, and housing assistance. By guiding individuals to existing programs through their directory, Healthy Start combats infant death while also eliminating health disparities.

Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBTQIA+ lobbying organization in the United States and maintains a wealth of resources related to queer and transgender health – including topics like the Affordable Care Act, healthcare rights, discrimination reporting, best practices for healthcare professionals, and their Healthcare Equality Index. The HEI conducts an annual survey of healthcare facilities across the country and ranks their policies and practices regarding LGBTQIA+ identities.

Lambda Legal is an American civil rights organization that uses litigation and public policy to promote LGBTQIA+ equality in US law. One of their resource collections centers on healthcare and related information and news on LGBTQIA+ healthcare.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free online database maintained by GLMA Health Professionals and the Tegan and Sara Foundation to connect users with information on local LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare providers.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical group that provides free medical educational materials in addition to the real-world medical procedures they perform at their clinics. Their site search engine uses the expertise of over 3,000 physicians, scientists, and researchers to inform users about diseases, symptoms, and medical tests.

MedlinePlus is an official service of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Library of Medicine (NLM) to provide high-quality and relevant health information that’s easy to understand. It is the world’s largest medical library and contains over 7 million journals, books, studies, reports, and microfilms that provide free access to various health topics, medical terms, diseases, drugs, exams, and genetic health information.

Medscape is a news site that’s considered a go-to for clinicians and medical professionals around the world – as well as everyday patients. The site and its membership are completely free and offer up-to-date medical news, drug development updates, and information on clinical trials.

MyHealthfinder is a service of the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide Americans with reliable information on wellness and prevention tools, including medical screenings and vaccinations. The site uses basic information from users to recommend best practices to stay healthy.

National Coalition for LGBTQ Health is a medical advocacy organization that seeks to improve the health of LGBTQIA+ people through education and research. In addition to news and information about general health, the Coalition also maintains a Mpox resource center for up-to-date guidance.

National LGBT Cancer Network is a resource site for cancer-related information and tools focused on LGBTQIA+ people. The Network runs multiple peer-support groups over online platforms such as Zoom and maintains a resource library on clinical information and screenings.

National LGBT Cancer Project was founded alongside Out with Cancer as the first national LGBTQIA+ cancer survivor support and advocacy organization in the United States. The Project covers a range of cancer topics in addition to their clinical trial search and resource library.

National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center, a program of the Fenway Institute, provides educational resources and consultation to healthcare organizations interested in better serving LGBTQIA+ people. Their webinars, learning modules, and publications help further the continued education of healthcare professionals.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is a free and confidential service available 24/7 through the HRSA for new and expecting mothers. Services are available in both English and Spanish via telephone or text.

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization Initiative is a federal program under the HRSA to increase funding related to organ transplants. The Health Systems Bureau manages the OPTN Dashboard, which makes data about organ transplants available to anyone in the United States.

Orphanet is a specialized encyclopedia of rare diseases and conditions, featuring information on over 6,000 rare diseases. While less used than sites like MedlinePlus, Orphanet contains data on both rare conditions as well as exceptionally rare drugs.

Out2Enroll connects LGBTQIA+ people and their families with any and all healthcare coverage options through the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance. O2E helps users compare plans based on LGBTQIA+ factors, like gender-affirming care or coverage for same-sex partners.

OutCare is a nonprofit health organization that creates comprehensive resources, support, and educational materials to lead to equitable LGBTQIA+ health outcomes in the United States. The OutList Provider Directory sorts LGBTQIA+ affirming providers for users to locate by zip codes local to their communities. The free OutCare Saving Program provides discounts for prescription medications at smaller pharmacy retailers compared to GoodRx. OutCare also offers paid research opportunities, peer support, mentorship, training, and webinars.

Point of Pride supports transgender and nonbinary health through a variety of programs, such as their trans surgery fund and HRT access fund. Other Point of Pride funds include the electrolysis support fund, thrive fund (for prosthetics, wigs, voice training, and other services traditionally considered medically unnecessary by insurance companies, and chest binder/femme shapewear fund.

Poison Help, also known as Poison Control and the National Capital Poison Center, provides users with free information and resources about common poisons in over 100 languages through their mobile app, virtual chat, and telephone hotline.

PubMed contains over 37 million medical publications through the National Library of Medicine to provide users with free access to biomedical literature around the world.

Reddit is a social media platform that operates through thousands of forums (referred to as subreddits) for users to find related communities and discussions. Relevant health subreddits include: r/medical, r/AskDocs, r/AskHealth, r/Ask Vet, r/askdentists, r/medical_advice, r/Healthcare_Anon, r/medicine, r/HealthInsurance.

Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (also known as the HIV/AIDS Bureau) is the official US entity for HIV primary care, medications, and support services for low-income individuals living with HIV. The Bureau provides funding to local and state HIV organizations to better serve the general public.

Rx Outreach is a nonprofit online pharmacy that delivers medication via the mail regardless of insurance or citizenship status. Similar to GoodRx, Rx Outreach aims to make prescription medication affordable to all individuals in the United States.

SAGE is the United State’s largest advocacy and services organization for LGBTQIA+ elders. In addition to their HearMe app that provides queer and transgender elders with chat support, SAGE also operates an action coalition, Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI), housing initiative, cultural competency training program, financial stability program, meal program, sexual wellness program, and the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging.

Smart Patients is an online community that connects patients and their families with others affected by similar illnesses and conditions. While few paths are identical, Smart Patients offers users the ability to not walk their journeys alone through online support.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services that leads national efforts on behavioral health and substance abuse. SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) operate similarly to FQHCs to provide care to people regardless of income status.

Trans Health Project is operated by Advocates for Trans Equality and contains detailed guidance for users to navigate health insurance coverage best for their comprehensive healthcare.

Trans Legal Health Fund is a service of the Transgender Law Center to provide transgender people with the financial resources necessary when facing investigation, arrest, or prosecution for seeking gender-affirming care.

US Department of Health and Human Services is a group of federal agencies aiming to enhance public health for Americans. The HHS administers over 100 different programs across its agencies, including healthcare coverage, social services and TANF, research, training, preventative care, public health and safety, and emergency response plans.

WebMD, which also owns Medscape, is one of the most visited websites for credible medical information. Like other sites listed, WebMD has a directory for information on diseases, medications, and symptoms – and also has a database of doctors through doctor.webmd.com.

World Health Organization is a United Nations agency that leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage and emergencies so that everyone can attain the highest level of health regardless of where they live.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), formerly known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, is the leading medical association on best practices for transgender health and provides professional and educational research for evidence-based medicine to best serve transgender and nonbinary people around the world.