Journeying Through the Hurdles of Gender-Affirming Care Insurance: A Literature Analysis

This literature review highlights the challenges transgender individuals face in accessing gender-affirming surgery (GAS) due to limited insurance coverage, despite its proven benefits in treating gender dysphoria. A systematic analysis of 67 articles, with 29 meeting inclusion criteria, reveals that as of 2020, only 30 U.S. states offer insurance coverage for transgender and gender non-binary individuals, and just 18 of these states cover GAS. The review underscores the need for health policy reforms and increased physician awareness to address the complex insurance regulations that hinder equitable care for transgender patients.