Study Finds Half of Trans People Get Gender-Affirming Surgery Out-of-State

Gender-affirming healthcare, including surgery, is an important part of living as a trans person for many. Without it, trans people experiencing dysphoria don’t have the option to pursue their authentic expression. Not having access to this care puts so many lives at risk. The sheer necessity of this care makes those who seek it go to great lengths to get gender-affirming healthcare, whether it’s traveling out-of-state or paying out-of-pocket. 

JAMA Surgery conducted a study on patients that had received gender-affirming surgery, both vaginoplasties and phalloplasties, to get an inside look at the cost of these surgeries when traveling is involved. The study found that 50% of gender-affirming surgery patients from 2007 to 2019 traveled out-of-state for their surgery. Those that traveled out of state had higher out-of-pocket costs for the surgery than those that received their surgery locally. Out-of-state patients averaged $2,645 of out-of-pocket expenses to cover the procedure; this is about an $864 difference on average from the amount of out-of-pocket costs that in-state patients have to pay.

These out-of-pocket costs are only in reference to the procedures needed. On top of these costs are the costs of traveling out-of-state, arranging a stay, staying long enough to recover and covering those additional expenses, and traveling back home. These costs can easily double or exceed the original out-of-pocket expenses. 

Needing to travel and pay more out-of-pocket for gender-affirming care could easily become a more prevalent issue due to the increasing cost of living nationwide and anti-trans laws in states like Florida and Texas. The anti-trans laws could not only make care more inaccessible but illegal to seek out, pushing people to seek care in other states.

The out-of-pocket costs will only increase as the cost of living increases make care inaccessible for a lot of trans people. Making gender-affirming care accessible nationwide would allow more people to get the care they need in their home states and to continue navigating life on their own terms.