Policies Determining Access to Gender Affirming Care for Illinois Residents

Abstract

Access to gender-affirming care in Illinois and other states is facilitated by a combination of federal and state policies. The Biden Administration repealed the Trump Administration’s Final Rule discontinuing non-discrimination protections related to gender identity in Health and Human Services programming. However, federal policy regarding gender-affirming care is only tenuously established through features of other policies, such as the Affordable Care Act and the Civil Rights Act. The Illinois Human Rights Act establishes firmer protections for gender identity in state statutes, resulting in better access to gender-affirming care in Illinois that includes Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming procedures. Although this is a step in the right direction, we recommend further policy actions to improve access to gender-affirming care. A federal mandate, private insurance regulation, and professional training for health care providers are necessary to ensure more equitable access to gender-affirming care nationwide.