Health Insurance and Access to Care for Trans People in Maryland

Abstract

The Maryland Trans Survey is a community-based research project conducted by Trans Maryland and the Queer/Trans Collective for Research on Equity and Wellness examining experiences of trans people in the State of Maryland in areas such as health and healthcare, employment and economic wellbeing, and legal and policy experiences. To date, this is the largest survey of trans people in the State, with 750 trans people representing all 23 counties in Maryland and Baltimore City. Data were collected from June to December 2023 through in-person and online community outreach. The project was approved by Towson University’s Institutional Review Board (Protocol #1897) and used Trans Research Informed Consent (TRICON) Disclosures to provide trans community members with additional transparency on the project, recognizing long histories of harmful practices in trans research from scientific institutions. Trans individuals in Maryland face significant insurance barriers that impede their access to necessary healthcare services. These barriers are similar (but in some ways distinct) to those encountered by other marginalized populations and have broader implications across various service lines. Addressing these issues is crucial for ensuring equitable healthcare access for all. Some examples of barriers include: a) Excessive healthcare costs and issues with insurance coverage, b) Gendered services (e.g., reproductive care) excluding trans people, c) Discrimination and insufficient provider knowledge regarding trans health. To further explore these concerns, this brief contains information from the survey related to experiences of trans people with health insurance to help advocates, policymakers, and community-serving entities better understand and support the current needs of trans people in Maryland.