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Gender-affirming care in Ohio

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  • Page changed: Ohio Department of Insurance (2026-10-12) · #275
  • Page changed: Ohio Department of Insurance (2026-09-28) · #65
  • Page changed: Ohio Benefits (2026-09-28) · #64
Care for adults
Allowed
Care for people under 18
Banned
Ohio Medicaid pays for hormones
Unclear
Ohio Medicaid pays for surgery
Not covered
Private plans must cover care
No state rule

Adults in Ohio can get hormone therapy, including on an informed-consent basis at Equitas Health and Planned Parenthood. Ohio Medicaid excludes gender-affirming surgery, and state law gives no insurance protection. HB 68 bans hormones, puberty blockers, and surgery for anyone under 18; the ban is in effect while the Ohio Supreme Court hears an appeal.

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

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

If you are under 18, or a parent

HB 68 (ORC Chapter 3129, effective April 24, 2024, enacted over Governor DeWine's veto) bars physicians from providing gender reassignment surgery, cross-sex hormones, or puberty blockers to anyone under 18 for gender transition. Medicaid may not cover these services for minors.

  • Exceptions: minors who were already receiving hormones or blockers before April 24, 2024, if the physician finds that stopping would cause harm; and care for differences of sex development.
  • Penalties: violations are unprofessional conduct subject to license discipline, and the Attorney General can sue to enforce the ban.
  • Mental health care for gender dysphoria is still allowed.

Litigation: an appeals court struck down the ban in March 2025, but the Ohio Supreme Court stayed that ruling on April 29, 2025, so the ban is in effect while the appeal (Moe v. Yost) is pending.

[1][2][3][4][7]

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

  • Equitas Health, gender-affirming care[11][12]

    Informed-consent hormone therapy (no therapist letter), primary care, PrEP, pharmacy, and counseling at Columbus (Short North and King-Lincoln), Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron community health centers, plus telehealth. Sliding fee scale.

    • Sliding scale
    • Telehealth
    • Sees uninsured patients

    Serves: Statewide by telehealth; clinics in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron

    833-378-4827

  • Equitas Health TelePrEP[13]

    Online PrEP appointments with HIV/STI testing and free medication delivery in Ohio. The clinic says 99% of patients pay nothing, with or without insurance.

    • Free
    • Telehealth
    • Sees uninsured patients
    833-378-4827

  • Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio[14]

    Gender-affirming hormone therapy at health centers across central and northeast Ohio, 18 and older. Also STI testing and PrEP.

    • Sliding scale
    • Accepts Medicaid
    800-230-7526

  • MetroHealth Pride Network (Cleveland)[15]

    Cuyahoga County's public health system offers hormone therapy, gender-affirming surgery, behavioral health, primary care, and PrEP/PEP. Adult primary care 216-957-4905.

    • Insurance
    • Accepts Medicaid
    216-957-4905

  • TransOhio Emergency Fund[16]

    Cash assistance for trans Ohioans and families who need to relocate to a safer place or reach care. Apply through the form on TransOhio's site.

    • Free

  • Point of Pride, HRT Access and surgery funds[17]

    National grants for hormone therapy (through telehealth) and gender-affirming surgery.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • GenderBands grants[18]

    National grants toward gender-affirming procedures and related costs.

    • Free
    • Unverified

  • HRSA Find a Health Center[19]

    Federal locator for community health centers that charge on a sliding scale regardless of insurance.

    • Sliding scale
    • Sees uninsured patients

Paying for care

Medicaid (Ohio Medicaid)[6][4][8][9]

Ohio's Medicaid hospital-services rule lists "gender transformation" as a non-covered service (OAC 5160-2-03), and HB 68 bars coverage of transition services for minors (ORC 3129.06). Whether your managed care plan covers hormones and labs for adults is not stated in a public policy; ask your plan and your clinic, and appeal a denial. Adults qualify with income up to about 138% of the federal poverty level. Apply online at Ohio Benefits or at your county Job and Family Services office.

Apply for coverage

Private insurance[8][10]

Ohio has no law barring insurers from excluding gender-affirming care, and the state employee health plan excludes it. Check your plan's exclusions list. If a claim is denied, you can appeal and request an external review, and you can file a complaint with the Ohio Department of Insurance. The Trans Health Project and Equality Ohio can help with appeals.

File an insurance complaint

The rules in detail

Rules for adultsNo Ohio law bans gender-affirming care for adults.

No Ohio law bans gender-affirming care for adults. Equitas Health (Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Akron, and telehealth) and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio prescribe hormones on an informed consent basis, which means you do not need a therapist's letter.

If you have no insurance and little money:

  1. Apply for Ohio Medicaid (adults up to about 138% of the federal poverty level). Surgery is excluded; ask your plan or clinic whether hormones and labs are covered.
  2. Go to a community health center (Equitas Health or another FQHC). They charge on a sliding scale.
  3. Telehealth: Plume, FOLX, and Planned Parenthood serve Ohio.
  4. Point of Pride and GenderBands give grants for hormones and surgery.

Ohio law (ORC 9.05, 2025) defines sex as fixed at birth. It does not ban adult care, but it has been used to change state agency rules, such as the BMV's August 2026 policy.

[11][14][5][19]
Laws and court cases1 court case, 3 laws

Moe v. Yost

The ban is in effect. Ohio physicians may not start hormones or puberty blockers for anyone under 18.[7]

Families and physicians challenged HB 68's ban on care for minors under the Ohio Constitution. The Franklin County trial court upheld the ban in August 2024; the Tenth District reversed in March 2025; the Ohio Supreme Court stayed that ruling on April 29, 2025 and is hearing the state's appeal. Last update 2025-12-09.

Sources

19 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.Show all
  1. Ohio Revised Code § 3129.02, Physician prohibitionsOhio Legislative Service Commission, Law. accessed
  2. Ohio Revised Code § 3129.04, Permissible medical treatmentOhio Legislative Service Commission, Law. accessed
  3. Ohio Revised Code § 3129.05, EnforcementOhio Legislative Service Commission, Law. accessed
  4. Ohio Revised Code § 3129.06, Medicaid coverageOhio Legislative Service Commission, Law. accessed
    “Medical assistance provided under the medicaid program shall not include coverage for gender transition services for minor individuals.”
  5. Ohio Revised Code § 9.05, Sex recognition policyOhio Legislative Service Commission, Law. accessed
  6. Ohio Admin. Code 5160-2-03, Conditions and limitations (hospital services)Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Regulation. accessed
    “Gender transformation”
  7. Moe v. YostACLU, Organization. accessed
    “H.B. 68 will remain in effect during Defendants' appeal.”
  8. Ohio state profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  9. Ohio BenefitsState of Ohio, Official page. accessed
  10. Ohio Department of InsuranceState of Ohio, Official page. accessed
  11. Gender Affirming CareEquitas Health, Organization. accessed
    “You do not need an okay from a psychiatrist or therapist to start gender-affirming hormone therapy.”
  12. Find a LocationEquitas Health, Organization. accessed
  13. TelePrEPEquitas Health, Organization. accessed
  14. Our ServicesPlanned Parenthood of Greater Ohio, Organization. accessed
    “We provide gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, in a safe, judgment-free, and compassionate environment.”
  15. Pride NetworkMetroHealth, Organization. accessed
  16. TransOhioTransOhio, Organization. accessed
  17. Point of PridePoint of Pride, Organization. accessed
  18. GenderBandsGenderBands, Organization. accessed
  19. Find a Health CenterHealth Resources and Services Administration, Official page. accessed