As gender-affirming care gets harder to access under Trump, trans people turn to GoFundMe

"Medical crowdfunding has surged in recent years, with patients across the United States increasingly relying on online campaigns to cover gaps left by insurance, high deductibles, and uneven state-level access to care. For transgender people, those financial pressures often intersect with rapidly shifting political restrictions."

"Four days after undergoing top surgery in California, Lea described a sense of relief that outweighed the physical toll of recovery. 'I'm feeling emotionally fantastic,' he said. 'I'm so relieved and at peace with myself and with my body.'"

"'I'm still grateful [the majority was] covered, but that was still more than I was expecting, and someone told me you should start a GoFundMe,' Lea said."

The rising costs of gender-affirming treatment and tightening insurance coverage are making access increasingly difficult for transgender individuals. Many are turning to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe to cover financial gaps. This trend has become a practical necessity and a personal act of claiming care. Medical crowdfunding has surged as patients face high deductibles and uneven access to care. Personal stories shared online help individuals connect with their journey and seek the care they need amidst political restrictions.

Read at Advocate.com