November 20, 2020

Dr. Powers was featured in an article by Consumer Reports on the high cost, harassment, and lack of trained provider obstacles faced by transgender individuals. Related to the cost of care, Dr. Powers said, “for many transgender people, transitioning involves hormone replacement therapy, for example, to promote changes in facial hair, voice quality, or muscle mass. Many transgender people seek only hormone replacement therapy and do not pursue surgical transition measures like breast removal or augmentation.” Per Consumer Reports, a quarter of people in the NCTE survey who tried to have insurance pay for their hormone replacement therapy were denied coverage, as were over half who sought coverage for transition-related surgery.