Navigating Transgender Healthcare: The Ultimate Guide to Coverage, Clinics, and Rights

Everyone deserves equitable healthcare to live happy and healthy lives. This guide explores how to navigate healthcare as a transgender person.

Understanding the U.S. Healthcare System for Transgender Patients

Transgender people are individuals, so access to the entire healthcare system is important to support holistic health. Although not all medical providers offer gender-affirming treatments, many of them still support transgender lives.

The human body is complex. Healthcare professionals dedicate years to learning a field to provide the best possible care to patients. The basic types of healthcare professionals in the United States are:

• Primary care providers
• Urgent care
• Emergency care
• Walk-in care
• Telehealth care
• Specialist care

Primary Care Providers (PCPs): Your First Point of Contact

Primary care providers (PCPs) are the healthcare professionals you see most often, often referred to as a general or family doctor. PCPs serve as the first point of contact for most needs and are employed at community health clinics, offices, and hospitals.

PCPs address basic health concerns and work to ensure access to continuous care in their communities. Primary providers manage the public via preventive care. This includes vaccinations, wellness checkups, routine screenings, PrEP, birth control, and more. Preventive services must be covered for free or low-cost by all healthcare coverage providers. However, services can only be covered when performed by an approved PCP.

When primary care providers are not equipped to handle a health concern, they refer individuals to specialist providers. In most cases, you must see a PCP FIRST. The primary provider’s office will set up the referring appointment for you. Specialist providers work from private practices, clinics, and hospitals to see patients as needed.

Medical Specialists and the Referral System

Specialists are medical professionals with expertise in fields like allergies and pregnancy. Individuals see specialists when needs cannot be met with primary providers. Specialists do not see patients for basic needs.

In the United States, individuals typically need to be referred by a PCP before they can see a specialist – although there are exceptions, like gynecology. This referral system exists to ensure patients see the correct specialist for their condition AND to make sure treatment will be covered by insurance.

Gender-affirming care, such as hormone replacement therapy and surgery, is provided by specialists. Some primary care providers offer HRT, but most transgender individuals see endocrinologists for hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Surgery is completed by urologists, gynecologists, urogynecologists, plastic reconstructive surgeons, and similar specialists.

Walk-In Clinics: Minor Illnesses and Misconceptions

Walk-in clinics provide low-cost healthcare at retail stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies, bypassing the need to visit a doctor’s office. Also known as retail clinics, convenient care clinics, and nurse-in-a-box, these are operated by a physican assistant or nurse practitioner without full doctor supervision to offer basic care for minor illnesses and preventive services.

Since walk-in clinics operate out of convenience, they are rarely free or covered by insurance. Common walk-in clinics in the United States include CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Kroger. When community health clinics and hospitals are not available, retail clinics are a great way to manage minor illnesses and injuries.

There are pervasive misconceptions that some walk-in clinics offer gender-affirming care. This is wholly untrue. Although there are informed consent clinics that provide gender-affirming care to patients without lengthy letter requirements, these are operated by licensed doctors who evaluate patients before prescribing treatment like hormone replacement therapy.

Telehealth Services and Online Gender-Affirming Care

Telehealth services are provided by a medical professional from a remote location. These services are conducted over video call, phone call, or remote monitoring to allow individuals to access care without driving to a local clinic.

Most providers offer telehealth options, whether it’s electronic messaging through patient portals or full digital appointments. However, not all providers and conditions are eligible for telehealth. Although telehealth is a great substitute for primary and specialist care, certain services like vaccinations and laboratory exams require in-person visits.

Many transgender individuals access hormone replacement therapy through telehealth. Telehealth HRT providers (ex. Plume, FOLX, QueerDoc) may only prescribe treatment in states where they hold active licenses. HRT is legally accessible via telehealth throughout the entire United States, although some providers may not serve all states and territories.

In 2023, the DEA implemented new federal laws creating barriers to testosterone via telehealth. Although feminizing HRT can be prescribed entirely through telehealth, the DEA seeks to require individuals to be seen in person to be prescribed testosterone. However, the DEA has continued to extend COVID telemedicine guidelines to allow testosterone prescription until December 31, 2026.

Urgent Care Clinics: Bridging the Gap in Medical Care

Urgent care clinics are walk-in facilities that treat non-life-threatening conditions requiring prompt treatment. These clinics do not need appointments to see patients and bridge the service gap between generic primary care and the emergency room.

These facilities are best for illnesses and injuries that cannot wait for a doctor’s appointment, but do not require critical care from an emergency room. Urgent care clinics commonly see sprains, burns, and flus.

Urgent care clinics are not always available, especially in rural communities. In areas without urgent care facilities or retail clinics, primary care providers at community health clinics often offer same-day walk-in services.

Emergency Services: Critical Care and Triage Hierarchy

Emergency services provide immediate medical treatment to prevent serious harm or death. Unlike urgent and primary care, emergency providers treat sudden, severe, and life-threatening conditions. Emergency facilities are staffed 24/7 with trained physicians, nurses, and specialists to treat intense situations.

To best serve public health, individuals are directed to facilities based on their needs. Most situations only require basic intervention and are thus best served by primary providers and walk-in clinics to avoid overwhelming urgent and emergency services. The implementation of urgent care facilities directs non-critical patients out of the emergency room for treatment.

In the United States, emergency services are expensive. Most treatment performed inside US hospitals is exponentially more expensive than treatment provided at community health clinics or urgent care facilities.

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Navigating U.S. Healthcare Coverage and Insurance Systems

Understanding healthcare coverage is fundamental to accessing medical treatment.

In the United States, healthcare professionals cannot refuse patients experiencing life-threatening conditions, BUT patients can be billed incredibly large amounts of debt for treatment provided. Treatment and billing can occur even if you are unable to consent before treatment.

There are four types of healthcare coverage. The United States uses all four coverage systems in some capacity.

What is Universal Healthcare: Single-Payer Systems

Universal healthcare refers to coverage systems that provide medical treatment to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. Universal healthcare is also called single-payer because all medical treatment is paid for by a single entity: the government.

Medical treatment is never free because facilities must be continuously maintained. Universal healthcare systems work by using taxpayer funds to offset the cost of medical services.

The Beveridge Model: Socialized Healthcare and U.S. Applications

Beveridge healthcare systems provide medical treatment almost entirely through government funds. In countries with predominantly Beveridge systems, most medical facilities are operated by the government. These systems are classified as socialized, providing treatment to everyone regardless of income.

The Beveridge system was coined by Sir William Beveridge and Nye Bevan, creating the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. Bevan successfully campaigned against Winston Churchill by promising the British public reformed welfare services. Through taxpayer funds, Bevan and Beveridge successfully created a system to provide British citizens with better medical treatment.

Societies that have normalized socialized healthcare, like the United Kingdom, view healthcare as a responsibility of the government. As the government is obligated to take care of its citizens by funding roads and schools, these publics believe healthcare is an obligation they are jointly entitled to. After normalization, governments cannot defund socialized healthcare without massive public backlash because it benefits the entire society.

The Beveridge socialized model is used in the United Kingdom, Spain, Cuba, New Zealand, and many other countries. Further, the government’s involvement forces commercial healthcare providers to keep costs low to compete with free government services.

The Beveridge model is used to maintain the Department of Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Service, and Federal Bureau of Prisons. The United States employs the Beveridge model in select contexts, although many politicians like Bernie Sanders and AOC advocate for greater usage. Individuals using these systems visit government-operated facilities to obtain free medical treatment covered by taxpayer funds.

These systems do not eliminate free market competition. Even in countries that rely entirely on Beveridge socialized healthcare, individuals reserve the right to obtain professional care outside of the government system. For example, British citizens can find licensed providers outside of the NHS, and veterans may obtain care outside of Veterans Affairs. Although they must pay out-of-pocket or use alternative coverage for these providers, they receive care much faster than generic socialized treatment.

What is Privatized Healthcare: Market-Based Systems

Privatized healthcare refers to coverage systems that rely on individuals’ ability to pay for medical treatment. Access to treatment depends entirely on one’s ability to pay for services.

United States law prevents medical professionals from refusing life-threatening treatment, even if an individual cannot pay. However, unpaid treatment is billed and owed to patients (even if they cannot consciously consent to treatment).

The Bismarck Model: Private Insurance and Employer-Sponsored Care

Bismarck healthcare systems provide medical treatment through private insurance companies that reimburse medical facilities for services. Bismarck models are classified as privatized healthcare because access to treatment is based on one’s individual ability to pay.

Most often, insurance companies are paid through mandatory payroll deductions by employers to provide coverage to employees. The system was originally coined by Otto von Bismarck, who needed to create a new system in the wake of economic crisis in the German Empire.

Approximately 60% of all Americans maintain treatment coverage from private insurance companies through an employer. When Americans make too much income to qualify for other coverage options, they must utilize private insurance or pay for medical treatment entirely out-of-pocket. Private insurance can be offered through employer payroll deductions or bought privately. Marketplace subsidies exist to offset costs with non-employer private insurance.

Most Americans are deeply unsatisfied with privatized healthcare, leading to the complex public reaction regarding United States v. Luigi Nicholas Mangione. Although other countries apply legislation to regulate the cost of private treatment, the United States does not set any limits to deter massive medical debt or ineffective private coverage.

Understanding National Health Insurance: Medicare, Medicaid, and Single-Payer Delivery

Countries do not have to fully implement Beveridge’s socialized or Bismarck’s privatized systems. Dozens of countries implement models that combine these overarching systems to create National Health Insurance (NHI).

In NHI systems, the government operates as a single-payer entity to fund medical treatment through taxpayer funds. Unlike socialized medicine, the government does NOT own healthcare facilities; hospitals, clinics, and providers are private businesses that accept National Health Insurance as a payment coverage.

Similar to socialized medicine, NHI systems do not negate commercialism. NHI systems allow individuals to hold secondary private coverage to obtain care outside the primary referral system – NHI simply ensures all citizens have basic coverage.

Countries that predominantly use the NHI system include Canada, South Korea, Australia, and Italy. The United States employs NHI via Medicaid and Medicare, operating as a single-payer agency to cover medical treatment provided by private healthcare facilities.

The Major U.S. Healthcare Programs and Insurance Options

The United States uses all four coverage types to provide healthcare to citizens. Understanding your coverage eligibility connects you with treatment options without paying out-of-pocket.

Healthcare is disproportionately more expensive in the United States than elsewhere. The United States continues to be the only high-income country in the world that does not guarantee basic medical coverage (universal healthcare) to all its citizens. This results in the majority of Americans relying on commercial insurance companies for treatment.

Commercial healthcare coverage does not equate to better treatment or fewer medical bills.

• Insurance companies create complicated contracts to avoid paying for treatment, forcing patients to pay deductibles in addition to insurance subscription fees.
• Insurance companies are well-known for denying medically necessary care. Insurance executives determine coverage eligibility without medical education, determining profits over prescribed treatments.

Individuals can be covered by more than one coverage policy. In other words, having commercial insurance does not prevent you from obtaining Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, etc.

Medicaid: State-by-State Eligibility and Low-Income Coverage

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides free health insurance (NHI) to certain populations. Eligibility is determined individually by states and territories, although common covered populations include:

• Low-income individuals
• Pregnant individuals
• Children
• Elderly individuals
• Individuals with disabilities

Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee have some of the strictest Medicaid eligibility requirements. In states like these, you must be actively parenting a dependent child, pregnant, Disabled, or older than 65 years old. Further, legally able-bodied adults with children are ONLY eligible if they make 18% or less than the federal poverty line ($235 per month in 2026).

California, New York, and Massachusetts have the greatest Medicaid eligibility. In addition to generic populations like above, these states provide Medicaid to all single adults who make up to 138% of the federal poverty line ($1,835 per month in 2026).

Income eligibility increases with household size. Currently, nine states do not allow childless adults Medicaid coverage regardless of income. Some states provide Medicaid coverage to non-citizens, although immigrant eligibility varies. Use the Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard to review local policies.

CHIP: Expanding Healthcare Coverage for Low and Middle-Class Youth

Individuals up to age 19 are eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, even if their household income is too high for Medicaid requirements. The income threshold for CHIP ranges from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty line, depending on state regulations.

CHIP was created to ensure American youth maintain coverage through a national health insurance. Although Medicaid provides coverage to low-income individuals, the middle class is left without healthcare coverage if their income is too high for Medicaid but not enough for commercial insurance.

Like Medicaid, states are given the authority to determine eligibility requirements. States like North Dakota limit coverage to youth up to 175% of the federal poverty line, while New York covers up to 405%.

Unlike commercial health coverage, which is required to cover youth under their parent’s plan until age 26, young people lose CHIP upon turning 19. On their nineteenth birthday, former CHIP youth become uninsured unless they obtain alternative coverage.

Medicare: Federal Coverage for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

Medicare is a national health insurance for individuals with disabilities OR aged 65 and older. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare does not have any income eligibility limitations, although Medicare generally reduces healthcare costs rather than fully covering them, as Medicaid does.

People can be covered simultaneously by Medicare and Medicaid if they meet eligibility requirements in their state, heavily assisting low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

Medicare reduces out-of-pocket expenses associated with hospital care, outpatient services, prescription medication, and private healthcare plans. Since Medicare is operated solely as a federal program, it has no state flexibility.

VA Healthcare and TRICARE: Medical Coverage for Military Families

Individuals who have served in the United States armed forces AND have never received a dishonorable discharge are eligible for complete healthcare coverage. As a Beveridge-style system, veterans may receive free medical treatment at any VA facility.

Current service members have medical services covered through TRICARE, a program run by the United States Department of Defense. After serving for at least 24 continuous months in the military, service members become eligible for honorable discharge benefits, including VA healthcare. Immediate family members of service members and veterans are automatically eligible for coverage.

There are no income restrictions for VA healthcare coverage. For medical treatment to be covered for free, individuals generally must receive care at VA facilities. However, VA healthcare has notoriously long wait times for treatment, which is why covered individuals may elect to see other providers with alternative coverage or out-of-pocket.

The Indian Health Service (IHS): Tribal Eligibility and Federal Care

Native Americans are eligible for complete healthcare coverage through the Indian Health Service. As a Beveridge-style system, individuals may only receive free medical treatment through IHS facilities.

To be eligible for IHS services, individuals must be affiliated with a federally recognized tribe. Similar to VA healthcare and TRICARE, individuals may elect to see providers outside of the IHS system through alternative coverage or out-of-pocket. Also, like VA healthcare and TRICARE, IHS coverage does not have any income restrictions.

Incarcerated Healthcare: Constitutional Rights and Carceral Systems

Incarcerated individuals maintain a protected right to medical treatment while in government custody. As a Beveridge-style system, individuals receive reduced medical treatment from approved government providers.

Individuals who are currently serving in United States prisons or jails are restricted from traditional healthcare coverage options, including the Marketplace.

However, the quality of medical service provided to incarcerated individuals varies drastically because there are no federal standards. While Estelle v. Gamble established that inmates are entitled to healthcare, there is no consensus on what minimum treatment must be provided for free.

Many facilities, even those accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and American Correctional Association, enforce mandatory copays on inmates. These copays are disproportional to inmate income; on average, inmates earn $0.25 to $0.86 per day, although it costs $13 for a single sick visit.

Federal law only stipulates that prisons and jails must provide medical treatment and does not define the cost or quality of care provided. These conditions deter most inmates from seeking medical care.

The Health Insurance Marketplace and Employer-Sponsored Plans

Most Americans obtain commercial healthcare coverage through the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace if they do not qualify for alternative coverage like Medicaid, IHS, or VA. The Marketplace is a Bismarck-style system since medical treatment is paid through private companies that reimburse providers for services.

The Marketplace originated from the 2010 Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). When employers do not offer sufficient insurance coverage, individuals use the Marketplace to choose coverage or confirm eligibility for government options like Medicaid. As private coverage providers, Marketplace options offer individualized contracts with deductibles, copays, and limitations.

Based on demographics and income status, the Marketplace will display all available coverage options. All individuals are eligible for commercial Marketplace insurance as long as they are at least 18 years old, are living legally in the United States, are not eligible for Medicare, and are not currently incarcerated.

Most United States employers are required to offer healthcare insurance options to employees. These are private plans similar to options available on the Marketplace. Only small employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees may opt out of providing insurance options to staff under the Affordable Care Act.

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Overcoming Cost Barriers: Free and Low-Cost Healthcare Options

Cost is the leading barrier that prevents Americans from accessing medical treatment. When individuals avoid preventive healthcare, they become at risk of life-threatening emergencies. These are programs and initiatives that make healthcare accessible.

Understanding FQHCs: Affordable Treatment and Community Clinics

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are federally funded nonprofit health organizations that provide medical treatment on a sliding scale. Through government funding, these organizations can offer services regardless of individuals’ ability to pay.

FQHCs often host public events for their communities to provide limited preventive care for free, like annual check-ups, immunizations, and screenings. Additionally, FQHCs always accept government healthcare coverage options like Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare.

FQHC and similar healthcare organizations provide non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) to provide transportation to appointments. Transportation is provided for free or at a discounted rate based on income status. Some NEMT is operated through agencies like Uber Health and Transdev.

Some Federally Qualified Health Centers may offer gender-affirming care, but this depends on whether they have providers trained in services such as hormone replacement therapy. The endocrinologist who has prescribed my HRT for the last eight years is through a FQHC.

You should always be treated with dignity, regardless of gender identity, although discrimination laws vary from state to state.

Charitable Healthcare Facilities: Free Medical Treatment for the Uninsured

The NAFC maintains a list of clinics that provide free or reduced services. There are over 1,400 clinics currently affiliated with the NAFC that provide treatment for free, even if you do not have insurance or coverage. Similar programs exist for pharmacy medications, vision care, and dental health.

These nonprofit facilities operate through volunteers, donations, and grant funding that allow them to serve uninsured or underinsured communities.

Like FQHCs, charitable healthcare facilities can potentially offer gender-affirming care – although it is unlikely since most clinics are gears towards preventative and emergency health. The largest charity-like HRT provider is Planned Parenthood, which offers gender-affirming care on a reduced sliding scale based on need.

Direct Primary Care (DPC): Subscription-Based Medicine Without Insurance

Direct Primary Care (DPC) requires patients to pay monthly membership fees to a healthcare facility directly for ongoing access to care, rather than involving any insurance company. It is a model of healthcare coverage recently introduced to the United States.

Instead of insurance deducting from each paycheck, DPC is essentially a subscription to your local clinic. In exchange for membership, patients gain access to unlimited primary care visits, lab work, and other services without copays or deductibles. However, these facilities do not accept commercial insurance, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, or other forms of coverage.

There are several websites that maintain directories of DPC facilities throughout the United States, such as DPC Alliance.

Although possible, it is extremely unlikely for any DPC to provide gender-affirming care. Since these facilities cater to primary care needs, they are unable to fulfill specialist requests like hormone replacement therapy.

GoodRx: Navigating Prescription Discount Platforms

GoodRx is a website and mobile application that links users with discounts for prescription medication. Its coupons can be used at over 75,000 pharmacies across the United States, including major retailers like Walmart, CVS, Costco, and Kroger.

GoodRx is also a price comparison tool, allowing users to find the best price for their medication at multiple retailers.

In February 2026, Trump announced the launch of “TrumpRx.” Although TrumpRx is government-funded, it is an inferior knock-off of GoodRx. Based on my limited use of the website, TrumpRx gives worse discounts, focuses on affiliated brands, does not have a comprehensive medication database, and is far too restrictive on who may use these lesser discounts.

The main downside to GoodRx is that you cannot use insurance or other healthcare coverage in combination with its coupons. Although you may use GoodRx while covered by these plans, all medication obtained through GoodRx coupons must be paid out-of-pocket. However, GoodRx’s coupons bring medications down to copay and cost-share fees.

HRT Price Comparison: Retail vs. GoodRx Savings (June 2026)

Medication	Retail Price	GoodRx Standard Price
Testosterone Cypionate Injectable (200 mg, 1 ml)	$41.04	$30.33
Testosterone Gel (5 g of 1%, 30 packets)	$461.64	$116.15
Estradiol Tablet (1 mg, 90 tablets)	$48.20	$25.17
Estradiol Patch (0.025 mg per day, 4 patches)	$38.05	$26.72

Mail-Order Pharmacies: Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Delivery

Several programs exist to provide prescription medication through the mail, cutting out the cost of retail pharmacies by shipping medication to consumers from manufacturers. These are the most popular options.

Rx Outreach: Nonprofit Mail-Order Pharmacy Access

Rx Outreach delivers prescription medication via mail, regardless of insurance coverage. It operates similarly to GoodRx to provide deeply reduced medication to underinsured people. Mail delivery is available to anyone in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands as long as they have a valid prescription for any Rx Outreach medication.

Rx Outreach is especially useful because they have assistance programs to offer free medication to individuals based on federal funding. Although Rx Outreach offers reduced medication to all 50 states, its patient assistance program is currently limited to the St. Louis area.

Although it is available to everyone, Rx Outreach prioritizes individuals who meet specific income thresholds. Similar to GoodRx, Rx Outreach does not accept insurance, and all medication must be paid out-of-pocket.

Amazon Pharmacy: Insurance Integration and RxPass Savings

Amazon Pharmacy provides prescription medication via the mail and, unlike other mail-order pharmacies, accepts most major insurance plans. Amazon Prime Members have access to RxPass, which offers over 60 generic medications for a flat $5 per month subscription fee.

Compared to Rx Outreach and Cost Plus Drugs, Amazon Pharmacy is the fastest, most convenient, and best to use with commercial insurance. However, Amazon Pharmacy is not necessarily the cheapest – many mental health medications are more expensive through Amazon Pharmacy.

Cost Plus Drugs: Opaque Pricing Replaced by Transparent Markups

Cost Plus Drugs sells mail-order medication at a near-wholesale rate, making it useful for individuals with high copays. For each medication, users are charged the manufacturer price, a flat 15% markup, and a $5 pharmacy fee.

Like Rx Outreach, Cost Plus Drugs does not accept insurance. All medication through Cost Plus Drugs must be paid out-of-pocket.

Mail-Order HRT Price Comparison: Retail vs. Direct Delivery Platforms (June 2026)

Medication	Retail Price	Rx Outreach	Amazon Pharmacy	Cost Plus Drugs
Testosterone Cypionate Injectable (200 mg, 1 ml)	$41.04	$20.00	$84.44	Unavailable
Testosterone Gel (5 g of 1%, 30 packets)	$461.64	$55.00	$465.00	Unavailable
Estradiol Tablet (1 mg, 90 tablets)	$48.20	$20.00	$48.60	$10.30
Estradiol Patch (0.025 mg per day, 4 patches)	$38.05	$40.00	$74.28	$53.30

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Transgender Healthcare Resource Index: National Advocacy, Agencies, and Directories

Advocates for Trans Equality. Advocacy organization centered on transgender rights in the United States. Maintains the Trans Health Project and comprehensive resources on legal rights, including healthcare.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Organization that sets national standards for family medicine and primary care. The AAFP Neighborhood Navigator connects users with over 40,000 social services via zip code, ranging from food, infant supplies, housing, transit, education, employment, etc.

American Academy of HIV Medicine. Organization that provides training, data, and guidance to healthcare professionals regarding HIV care and prevention.

American Public Health Association. National organization of US healthcare providers. Impacts federal legislation and sets national standards for healthcare policies.

CancerCare. Organization that provides free support services and information to the public regarding cancer. Manages support groups, counseling, resource navigation, workshops, publications, and financial assistance.

CaringInfo. Education and resource hub for end-of-life care to provide tools to patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals navigating serious illnesses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Government agency operated by the United States government to control, prevent, and treat disease, injury, and disability. Since CDC policies and staffing vary based on presidential administration, campaigns fluctuate based on expected health concerns.

CostPlus Drugs. Mail-order pharmacy that reduces consumer fees by cutting out retailers. Users are charged slightly more than manufacturing costs for medication.

Department of Health and Human Services. Government agency that administers over 100 different programs to enhance public health through healthcare coverage, social services, research, and emergency response planning.

Drugs.com. Pharmaceutical encyclopedia that provides information on medication, side effects, and interactions. Also functions as a pill identifier and phonetic search engine, making it the most popular and up-to-date website for medication information.

Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Government agency that provides healthcare services to rural communities throughout the United States.

FOLX. Gender-affirming care telehealth provider. Offers services in all 50 states, although gender-affirming treatments like HRT are only available based on state law. Also provides mental health services, primary care, reproductive services, and fertility treatments.

FQHC Directory. Government directory of health organizations that provide medical treatment on sliding scales. All organizations listed as FQHCs must accept Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP and provide non-emergency medical transportation upon request.

FreeDentalCare. Directory of free and reduced dental clinics for low-income individuals throughout the United States.

Get Covered Connector. Connects users with local nonprofit organizations to access healthcare coverage and complete applications. Provides telephone, virtual, and in-person appointments with providers. Directory includes information regarding whether nonprofit providers are LGBTQIA+-friendly.

GLMA Health Professionals. Association of LGBTQIA+ healthcare professionals with free educational material and training for medical providers. Maintains online directory of queer-friendly providers at the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory.

GoodRx. Website and mobile app that provides discounts for prescription medication at select pharmacies, including major retailers like Walmart, CVS, Costco, and Kroger.

Greater Than AIDS. Provides up-to-date information about HIV and STDs to underserved populations, as well as testing and prevention tools.

Healthcare Insurance Marketplace. Government platform that enrolls users in commercial insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP, and other coverage options.

Health Resources and Services Administration. Government agency that seeks to improve healthcare access to medically vulnerable, isolated, and uninsured individuals. Operates numerous programs to help people receive treatment, such as Healthy Start and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Healthy Start. Government program focused on maternal and child health and connects new mothers with services, such as transportation, education, and housing assistance.

Human Rights Campaign. Organization centered around LGBTQIA+ advocacy in the United States and maintains many resources related to transgender health, including topics like the Affordable Care Act, healthcare rights, and discrimination reporting. The Healthcare Equality Index annually ranks healthcare facilities regarding LGBTQIA+-inclusive policies.

Lambda Legal. Civil rights organization that promotes LGBTQIA+ equality through litigation and public policy. Maintains several resource collection centers, including one focused on LGBTQIA+ healthcare.

LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory. Online directory that connects users with information regarding local LGBTQIA+-friendly healthcare providers.

Mayo Clinic. Medical group that allows users to search for information based on the expertise of over 3,000 physicians, scientists, and researchers to inform people about health.

Medicaid and CHIP Scorecard. Government tool that compares state Medicaid and CHIP programs.

MedlinePlus. Government service that provides health information and contains over 7 million medical journals, books, studies, reports, and microfilms.

Medscape. Media outlet for healthcare professionals that gives medical news, drug development updates, and clinical trial information.

MyHealthFinder. Government service that offers information on wellness and disease prevention. The site uses basic user information to calculate best practices to stay healthy, including medical screenings and vaccinations.

National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics. Directory of healthcare facilities that provide free or reduced services regardless of insurance status. Data directory also includes information related to pharmacies for free prescription medication.

National Coalition for LGBTQ Health. Advocacy organization that seeks to improve LGBTQIA+ health through education and research.

National Eye Institute. Government program that connects individuals with free and low-cost vision services.

National LGBT Cancer Project. LGBTQIA+ cancer support organization that discusses cancer-related topics, clinical trial information, and resources.

National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center. Educational and consultation program that gives webinars, learning modules, and publications to healthcare providers to better serve LGBTQIA+ patients.

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline. Confidential government service available 24/7 for new and expecting mothers. The hotline can be reached via telephone call, text message, or instant message at 833-852-6262.

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization Initiative. Government program that manages funds and data regarding organ transplants in the United States. The OPTN Dashboard seeks to make organ transplant data available to the public.

Orphanet. Encyclopedia of rare diseases and conditions. Although less popular than MedlinePlus and Mayo Clinic, Orphanet contains critical data on rare conditions and medications.

Out2Enroll. Connects LGBTQIA+ people with healthcare coverage options through the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurance. Allows users to compare plans based on gender-affirming care, coverage for same-sex partners, and other aspects relevant to LGBTQIA+ people.

OutCare. Organization that creates comprehensive resources for equitable LGBTQIA+ health. Offers paid research opportunities, peer support, training, and webinars. Maintains the OutList Provider Directory and OutCare Saving Program. Also provides free PrEP and DoxyPEP, as well as community resources.

OutCare Saving Program. Provides discounts for prescription medication at select pharmacies.

OutList Provider Directory. Connects users to LGBTQIA+-affirming medical providers based on zip code.

Planned Parenthood. Reproductive healthcare provider that offers informed consent gender-affirming care through virtual and local clinics.

Plume. Get hormone therapy, mental health support, and ongoing transgender healthcare from licensed clinicians. Access care online, including prescriptions, letters of support, and everyday care services. Available in most states, although testosterone HRT is more restricted.

Point of Pride. Organization that supports transgender and nonbinary health through funds for gender-affirming surgery, hormone replacement therapy, electrolysis, chest binders, shapewear, and other aspects of transition.

Poison Control. Tool that provides users with information about common poisons in over 100 languages. Available mobile app, virtual chat, and telephone hotline. Contact your local poison center at 800-222-1222.

Protect Trans Health. National campaign to improve transgender access to healthcare and coordinates advocacy to defend the legal right to gender-affirming care.

PubMed. Provides free access to over 37 million biomedical publications through the National Library of Medicine.

QueerDoc. Gender-affirming care telehealth provider that prescribes to individuals residing in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Reddit. Social media platform that consists of thousands of anonymous forums. 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. Government agency for HIV primary care, medication, and support services for low-income individuals living with HIV.

Rx Outreach. Nonprofit mail-order pharmacy that delivers affordable prescription medication regardless of insurance status in all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Also operates initiatives like Fill the Gap to provide free medication to eligible participants.

SAGE. Advocacy organization for LGBTQIA+ elders. Maintains the Long-Term Care Equality Index. Also operates a housing initiative, cultural competency training program, financial stability program, and the National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging.

Smart Patients. Online community that connects users with other individuals experiencing similar illnesses and conditions.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Government agency that leads behavioral health treatment and substance abuse services. SAMHSA Certified Behavioral Health Clinics operate similarly to FQHCs to provide services regardless of income status.

The Cancer Network. Resource site for cancer-related information and tools related to LGBTQIA+ people. Operates multiple peer-support groups and a library on clinical information and screenings.

Transbucket. Forum that connects transgender individuals to gender-affirming surgery results.

Trans Health Project. Program operated by Advocates for Trans Equality to provide guidance to users to best navigate health coverage for comprehensive healthcare. Also has a video series explaining the insurance process for gender-affirming care.

Trans Legal Health Fund. Resource by the Transgender Law Center and If/When/How to financially support transgender people facing investigation, arrest, or prosecution while accessing healthcare. Although there is no longer a direct link to the Trans Legal Health Fund, individuals can request assistance through the Help Desk.

WebMD. Directory of information related to diseases, medications, and symptoms. Also maintains a database of medical providers through WebMD Care.

World Health Organization. International agency that leads public health alongside the United Nations.

World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Leading medical association for international best practices regarding transgender health. Provides professional guidance and educational research for evidence-based medicine to best serve transgender people around the world.

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