Insurance Coverage for Gender-Affirming Voice and Communication Services: An In-Depth Analysis in a Midwestern U.S. State.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the gap between the need for gender-affirming voice and communication services (GAVCS) and insurance coverage within one state. Method: An electronic, cross-sectional survey of transgender/gender-diverse (TGD) adults assessed the incidence of insurance a...
| Publicado en: | Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 490 - 512 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
| Formato: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Jun2024
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=177681596&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 177681596 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 2381473X KTSD jtl: Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups issn: 2381473X maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Jun2024 vid: 9 iid: 3 pid: 42 pub: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association place: Rockville, Maryland artinfo: ui: 177681596 177681596 177681596 10.1044/2024_PERSP-23-00240 177681596 ppf: 490 ppct: 22 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Insurance Coverage for Gender-Affirming Voice and Communication Services: An In-Depth Analysis in a Midwestern U.S. State. aug: au: Dubey, Ishita Stryker, Shanna D. Madzia, Jules L. Pickle, Sarah Dion, Gregory R. McKenna, Victoria S. affil: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH sug: subj: Voice Disorders Therapy Health Care Costs Midwestern United States Insurance, Health, Reimbursement Midwestern United States Gender Affirming Care Midwestern United States Health Services Needs and Demand Midwestern United States Human Insurance Coverage Midwestern United States Electronic Health Records Cross Sectional Studies Transgender Persons Gender-Nonconforming Persons Patient Attitudes Health Policy Insurance Carriers Attitude of Health Personnel Discrimination Socioeconomic Factors Questionnaires Descriptive Statistics Adult Funding Source Adult: 19-44 years ab: Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the gap between the need for gender-affirming voice and communication services (GAVCS) and insurance coverage within one state. Method: An electronic, cross-sectional survey of transgender/gender-diverse (TGD) adults assessed the incidence of insurance and cost barriers to GAVCS. Then, policies from 22 major insurers were reviewed using a web-based search and telephone inquiries. Finally, a tool was developed for clinicians to share available coverage for GAVCS by insurer. Results: Over half (53%) of 115 respondents reported vocal incongruence, but only 19.1% had pursued GAVCS. Of those who had not, 57% reported cost and/or insurance coverage were barriers (most of whom were commercially insured). Less than half of major Ohio insurance plans mentioned GAVCS coverage, and of those who did, less than half would consider covering it on a caseby- case basis. Creation of a tool that explained coverage across insurance companies was helpful, but challenging and labor-intensive. Conclusions: TGD individuals often experience a mismatch between their gender identity and societal perceptions of their voice, which can worsen dysphoria and compromise safety. GAVCS align voice with gender identity but are inconsistently covered by health insurance and can be costly, particularly for individuals who face socioeconomic marginalization. Inconsistent transparency in communicating coverage criteria further exacerbates access to GAVCS. Poor insurance coverage of GAVCS is an important barrier to accessing this evidence-based care, and more transparency and consistency in coverage is critical. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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