Trans Resource Navigator

Gender-affirming care in New York

Change detected, under review. An official source this page relies on changed recently. Part of this page may be out of date until we review it.

  • Page changed: LGBTQ+ health care services, Pride Health Centers (2026-10-12) · #273
  • Page changed: NYC Care (2026-10-12) · #272
  • Page changed: LGBTQ+ health care services, Pride Health Centers (2026-09-28) · #62
  • Page changed: NYC Care (2026-09-28) · #61
Care for adults
Allowed
Care for people under 18
Allowed
New York Medicaid pays for hormones
Covered
New York Medicaid pays for surgery
Covered
Private plans must cover care
Yes, by law

Gender-affirming care is legal and protected in New York for adults and minors. NY Medicaid covers hormone therapy and surgery, state-regulated private insurance may not exclude it, and a 2023 shield law protects patients and providers from other states' investigations. Community health centers, NYC Health + Hospitals, and LGBTQ health centers offer care whether or not you have insurance.

Draft from official sources, September 24, 2026. Not yet checked by a person. How we verify

On this page
  1. Health centers near you
  2. Hormones by telehealth
  3. Clinics, programs, and funds
  4. Paying for care
  5. Rules for adults
  6. Rules for under 18
  7. Laws and court cases
  8. Sources

Community health centers near you

These federally funded centers must see you whether or not you have insurance, and charge based on income. Many, but not all, prescribe hormone therapy. Call and ask for "gender-affirming care" or "hormone therapy."

Sorting by distance uses your location only on this device. It is never sent anywhere.

Hormones by telehealth

These services prescribe hormones through video visits for people in this state. Point of Pride pays for a year and a half of care with several of them each spring.

  • Plume

    PaidNo Medicaid18+

    Trans-led telehealth service providing informed-consent hormone therapy, lab orders, prescriptions, and letters for surgery and documents, by app and video visit. Self-pay only since January 2026. A Point of Pride HRT Access Fund partner.

    About $99 per month ($90 in NY and NJ), which includes visits, messaging, prescriptions, and document letters. Labs and medications are billed separately and are often cheap with GoodRx or at a community pharmacy. Free for 18 months if you win a Point of Pride HRT Access Fund grant.

  • FOLX Health

    InsuranceTakes insuranceNo Medicaid18+

    LGBTQ-focused telehealth offering hormone therapy, PrEP, primary care, and mental health visits. Accepts major commercial insurance (Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare) but not Medicaid or Medicare. A Point of Pride HRT Access Fund partner.

    In-network with many commercial plans; self-pay membership about $69 to $98 per month all-inclusive.

  • Planned Parenthood

    Sliding scaleTakes insurance

    Many Planned Parenthood affiliates provide informed-consent gender-affirming hormone therapy alongside sexual and reproductive health care, on a sliding scale and with Medicaid. Most affiliates see adults 18 and older; a few see 16- and 17-year-olds with parental consent and a readiness letter. Many start hormone care by telehealth. Self-pay initial consults typically run about $120 to $250 before sliding-scale discounts.

Clinics, programs, and funds

  • NYC Health + Hospitals, Pride Health Centers[6]

    Eight public hospital sites (Bellevue, Elmhurst, Gouverneur, Judson, Jacobi, Lincoln, Metropolitan, Woodhull) offering primary care with hormone therapy, surgical referrals, PrEP/PEP, and behavioral health. Surgery at Elmhurst and Metropolitan. Serves patients regardless of ability to pay. Call 1-844-692-4692 or email lgbtq@nychhc.org.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    • Sees uninsured patients

    Serves: New York City

    1-844-692-4692

  • Callen-Lorde Community Health Center[8]

    LGBTQ community health center with hormone therapy, primary care, and an adolescent program (HOTT). Sites in Chelsea (212-271-7200), Brooklyn (718-215-1818), and the Bronx (718-215-1800).

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    212-271-7200356 West 18th St, New York, NY 10011

  • Trillium Health (Rochester)[9]

    Community health center offering transgender care in primary care, plus PrEP and PEP. Sliding fee discounts based on income and family size. Call 585-545-7200.

    • Sliding scale

    Serves: Rochester and Finger Lakes

    585-545-7200

  • Evergreen Health (Buffalo)[10]

    LGBTQ+ affirming medical care and the region's largest PrEP provider. Sites at 206 S. Elmwood Ave and 800 Hertel Ave, Buffalo. Call 716-847-2441 to ask about hormone therapy.

    • Cost varies

    Serves: Western New York

    716-847-2441206 S. Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY

  • Planned Parenthood of Greater New York[11]

    Planned Parenthood affiliate covering NYC and much of the state. Many Planned Parenthood affiliates offer gender-affirming hormone therapy; call to confirm availability and minimum age at your health center.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    • Unverified

  • NYC Care[7]

    City program guaranteeing low- and no-cost services at NYC Health + Hospitals for New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford insurance. Call 1-646-692-2273.

    • Low cost
    • Sees uninsured patients

    Serves: New York City residents

    1-646-692-2273

  • Point of Pride[13]

    National fund programs for hormone therapy access and gender-affirming items.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • GenderBands[14]

    National nonprofit offering grants for gender-affirming care costs.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • HRSA Find a Health Center[12]

    Federal locator for community health centers, which charge on a sliding scale based on income.

    • Sliding scale
    • Sees uninsured patients

Paying for care

Medicaid (New York Medicaid)[1][3]

18 NYCRR 505.2(l) requires Medicaid to cover medically necessary hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery for gender dysphoria, in both fee-for-service and managed care plans.

  • Hormones: puberty suppressants for people who meet clinical criteria; hormones from age 16, younger with demonstrated medical necessity and prior approval.
  • Surgery: age 18 and older, with letters from two New York-licensed qualified professionals; under 18 only with prior approval. Procedures judged purely cosmetic are excluded.

Apply through NY State of Health online, by phone, or with a local navigator.

Apply for coverage

Private insurance[4][3][5]

State-regulated (fully insured) plans may not deny medically necessary treatment solely because it is for gender dysphoria (DFS Circular Letter No. 7, 2014), and may not deny, limit, or exclude coverage because of gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Self-funded employer plans are regulated federally and may not be covered. If your plan denies care, appeal with the plan, then file a complaint or external appeal with the Department of Financial Services (1-800-541-2831).

File an insurance complaint

The rules in detail

Rules for adultsNo state restriction. Hormone therapy is available from community health centers, LGBTQ health centers, NYC Health + Hospitals Pride Health Centers,…

No state restriction. Hormone therapy is available from community health centers, LGBTQ health centers, NYC Health + Hospitals Pride Health Centers, and telehealth providers.

If you have no insurance and little money, in rough order:

  1. Apply for Medicaid or the Essential Plan through NY State of Health. Medicaid covers hormones and surgery (see below).
  2. In NYC, NYC Care guarantees low- and no-cost care at NYC Health + Hospitals for people who do not qualify for or cannot afford insurance, regardless of immigration status. Call 1-646-692-2273.
  3. Go to a community health center (find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov). They charge on a sliding scale.
  4. Point of Pride and GenderBands help pay for hormone access and gender-affirming items when funding allows.
[3][6][7][12][13][14]
Rules for under 18Legal. New York's 2023 shield law (S2475-B, Chapter 143) bars enforcement of other states' laws that would remove a child from a parent for allowing…

Legal. New York's 2023 shield law (S2475-B, Chapter 143) bars enforcement of other states' laws that would remove a child from a parent for allowing gender-affirming care, blocks cooperation with out-of-state investigations and subpoenas, and prevents extradition for care lawfully provided in New York. Care for minors follows clinical guidelines; NY Medicaid covers puberty blockers, and hormones from age 16 (younger with prior approval).

[2][1][3]
Laws and court cases2 laws

Sources

14 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. 18 NYCRR § 505.2, Physicians' services (subdivision (l), gender dysphoria treatment)Legal Information Institute (copy of NY regulation), Regulation. accessed
    “payment for gender reassignment surgery shall be covered for an individual who is 18 years of age or older”
  2. S2475-B (2023), gender-affirming care protections, Chapter 143 of 2023 (signed June 25, 2023)New York State Senate, Law. accessed
  3. Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex health careNew York State Office of the Attorney General, Official page. accessed
    “New York law enforcement, insurers, and health care providers are not permitted to cooperate with out-of-state legal action related to legally protected health care activity.”
  4. Insurance Circular Letter No. 7 (2014), health insurance coverage for treatment of gender dysphoriaNY Department of Financial Services, Regulation. accessed
    “An issuer may not deny medically necessary treatment otherwise covered by a health insurance policy solely on the basis that the treatment is for gender dysphoria.”
  5. File a complaintNY Department of Financial Services, Official page. accessed
  6. LGBTQ+ health care services, Pride Health CentersNYC Health + Hospitals, Official page. accessed
    “Primary care, which includes immunizations, hormone therapy, and surgical referrals”
  7. NYC CareNYC Health + Hospitals, Official page. accessed
    “a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance”
  8. Transgender healthCallen-Lorde Community Health Center, Organization. accessed
  9. Trillium HealthOrganization. accessed
    “Sliding fee discounts are available.”
  10. LGBTQ+ careEvergreen Health, Organization. accessed
  11. Planned Parenthood of Greater New YorkOrganization. accessed
  12. Find a Health CenterHealth Resources and Services Administration, Official page. accessed
  13. Point of PrideOrganization. accessed
  14. GenderBandsOrganization. accessed