Bridgercare now offers hormone therapy for trans* patients on a sliding fee scale.
57% of transgender and gender diverse patients report being refused health care.

Bridgercare offers LGBTQIA inclusive and competent reproductive healthcare and education and has expanded services for trans* patients to include hormone therapy and support resources.  Bridgercare provides hormone therapy services on a sliding fee scale.

Transgender patients have elevated needs for sliding fee scale services such as Bridgercare’s.
Trans* individuals are unemployed at a rate of 13%, more than twice the national average, due in part to workplace discrimination.  Among employed trans* individuals, over a quarter make less than $20,000 a year.  Ensuring affordable access to healthcare for this extremely vulnerable population is important to Bridgercare.

Fewer trans* individuals are covered by employer insurance than the general population.
Only 40% of transgender employees have insurance in their workplace compared to 62% of the general population. Bridgercare employs five certified application counselors who help individuals enroll in health insurance through the Marketplace and Medicaid for free. Last year, Bridgercare CACs were able to help over 400 patients enroll in health insurance.

About Bridgercare:  
Bridgercare provides excellent, affordable reproductive and sexual healthcare and education in a safe, supportive, empowering atmosphere.  We are an independent, non-profit, family planning clinic that provides services to everyone regardless of income, insurance coverage, sexual orientation and gender. Bridgercare focuses on reducing barriers to healthcare and education access for patients who are especially vulnerable due to their economic circumstances or discrimination. Bridgercare strives to create a healthier, happier community where everyone has access to high quality, compassionate and affordable healthcare.

Please visit www.bridgercare.org to find out more. Bridgercare is a member of Montana Shares and the Montana Nonprofit Association.

Sources for statistics in this press release:
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2009) by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center Transgender Equality.
When Health Care Isn’t Caring: Lambda Legal’s Survey of Discrimination Against LGBT People and People with HIV (2010).