what transgender treatment is covered by the va?

This is VA policy on the transgender care offered in VA facilities. This policy includes medically necessary care, such as hormone therapy, mental health care, preoperative evaluation, and post-operative and long-term care following gender confirming surgery.

Full Answer

Does VA help with transgender?

1. VA currently provides all medically necessary gender-affirming care to transgender Veterans with the exception of gender-affirming surgical interventions, due to an exclusion in the VA medical benefits package.

Does the VA cover transition surgery?

The VA currently provides hormone therapy, mental healthcare, preoperative evaluations, and long-term post-op care for transgender veterans, but it has banned coverage of the surgery itself since 1999, when an explanation of the medical benefits package explicitly excluded “gender alterations.”

Is HRT covered by the VA?

All other medically necessary health care for transgender veterans is covered, including care typically considered “sex specific,” such as mammograms and Pap smears, as well as transition-related care such as hormone replacement therapy, medically necessary prosthetics (such as binders and dilators), voice coaching, ...

Does the VA cover orchiectomy?

In these select Veterans, orchiectomy can be considered medically necessary as part of their hormone management, and not gender confirming/affirming surgery.

Does VA provide hormone therapy?

This is VA policy on the transgender care offered in VA facilities. This policy includes medically necessary care, such as hormone therapy, mental health care, preoperative evaluation, and post-operative and long-term care following gender confirming surgery.

Does the VA cover laser hair removal?

Currently, each VA decides if hair removal is indicated on a case-by-case basis after an evaluation of medical necessity. Some VA facilities have the equipment to perform laser hair removal and/or electrolysis, while others will need to access community care when this procedure is medically indicated.

Does the VA prescribe TRT?

Testosterone prescribing in VA varies by provider's age, experience, specialty and region. Providers in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) system vary in their testosterone prescribing practices, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Does the military pay for SRS?

And despite the confusion over the past few months, the Pentagon will pay for a transgender soldier's reassignment surgery on Tuesday, the first time it's ever done so.

Is gender-affirming care medically necessary?

Medical experts agree: Gender-affirming care is medically necessary care that can be life-saving for transgender youth. Medical decisions belong to trans youth, their parents, and their doctors.

What is considered sex specific care for transgender veterans?

All other medically necessary health care for transgender veterans is covered, including care typically considered “sex specific,” such as mammograms and Pap smears, as well as transition-related care such as hormone replacement therapy, medically necessary prosthetics (such as binders and dilators), voice coaching, and mental health services.

What is VHA care?

SUMMARY OF VHA CARE FOR TRANSGENDER VETERANS. All VHA staff are to provide care to transgender patients “in a manner that is consistent with their self-identified gender identity.”. This includes:

Is VHA a medical service?

VHA provides a wide range of health care services, including some transition-related medical care. However, VHA regulations still maintain an outdated and discriminatory exclusion for transition-related surgical care. VHA has a policy calling for respectful delivery of healthcare to transgender and intersex veterans otherwise eligible for VA care. ...

Does the Transgender Service ban apply to military retirees?

The transgender service ban implemented by the Trump Administration on April 12, 2019 does not apply to medical care for eligible military retirees or dependents. Current TRICARE regulations permit medically necessary mental health care and hormone therapy for eligible dependents but arbitrarily ban surgical care regardless of medical need.

Can transgender veterans use restrooms?

This includes: VHA staff and providers are required to refer to transgender veterans using their requested name and pronouns, even if the person has not updated their government-issued identification. Transgender veterans should be able to access VHA facilities, including restrooms, according to their gender identity.

How many transgender veterans are there?

There are more than 134,000 transgender veterans, according to an estimate from the National Center for Transgender Equality. The annual cost of the new services would depend on whether they were provided from the Veterans Affairs Department or through outside partners.

What is gender confirmation procedure?

Gender-confirming procedures reconstruct sexual organs to match the gender with which an individual identifies and have proved to mitigate serious health concerns like substance abuse, suicide and suicidal ideation, an administration official said, explaining the decision to change the policy.

What is the Biden policy change?

The policy change at the Veterans Affairs Department is the Biden administration’s latest move to overturn years of discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members of the military. A Trump-era ban on transgender service members was repealed on Mr. Biden’s fifth day in office.

Rewriting the Rules

The department has undertaken the rulemaking process to change the surgery policy in fits and starts before, but it's starting from scratch this time around.

The Cost of Waiting

One of those veterans is Sarah Klimm, who realized she was transgender about halfway through her 23-year career in the Marine Corps.

An Uncertain Future

Even once the VA actually starts covering surgery, transgender veterans and advocates are worried a future administration could ban it again, much like the back-and-forth over transgender military service.

Does the VA pay for hormone therapy?

The VA has been paying for prescription hormone therapy and mental health treatment for transgender veterans since 2013. But the directive that authorized those benefits, issued by the Obama administration, specifically excluded surgical procedures.

Is the VA offering gender reassignment surgery?

The Department of Veterans Affairs is taking the first steps toward offering gender-reassignment surgery to transgender vets, VA Secretary Denis McDonough announced Saturday at a Florida celebration of Pride Month.

Did Biden change his policy on transgender service members?

The policy change comes at the behest of President Biden, McDonough said. Biden rescinded President Trump’s ban on transgender service members in January, and in May the US Air Force and Space Force issued new guidelines on the equitable treatment of members undergoing gender transition.

What are the exclusions for transgender people?

Plans with transgender exclusions. Many health plans are still using exclusions such as “services related to sex change” or “sex reassignment surgery” to deny coverage to transgender people for certain health care services. Coverage varies by state. Before you enroll in a plan, you should always look at the complete terms ...

Is transgender health insurance discriminatory?

These transgender health insurance exclusions may be unlawful sex discrimination . The health care law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, among other bases, in certain health programs and activities.

Can insurance companies limit sex-specific preventive services?

Your health insurance company can’t limit sex-specific recommended preventive services based on your sex assigned at birth, gender identity, or recorded gender — for example, a transgender man who has residual breast tissue or an intact cervix getting a mammogram or pap smear.