Gender-Affirming Services at Yale Health

We are here to support you every step of the way on your journey to express your gender identity. At Yale Health, we provide comprehensive services and compassionate support for our transgender members. Our mission is to increase access to comprehensive, effective, and affirming healthcare services for transgender and gender-diverse people in our community.

Gender-affirming care at Yale Health consists of a multidisciplinary team approach made up of primary clinicians, nurses, care managers, mental health clinicians, obstetric/gynecologists, and endocrinologists. You play a critical role in partnering with Yale Health clinicians in your care. Together, we are strongly committed to respecting your privacy and treating you with consideration and dignity.

Click here for a printable resource sheet and more information on services and coverage.

Services

Gender-Affirming Care Coordination

We offer gender-affirming care coordination to our members covered under Yale Health insurance and can help you find caregivers to fit your needs. Consult your coverage documents for information on Yale Health’s coverage of treatments related to gender dysphoria and gender affirmation.

If you have questions, call 203-436-5791. Please provide your preferred name and pronouns, which can be added to your medical record.

Hormone therapy to feminize or masculinize the body

Talk to your PCP before starting testosterone or estrogen therapy. They’ll talk to you about any risks or side effects. And they'll help make sure that you’re taking the right amount of masculine or feminine hormones. Alcohol and tobacco use raise the risk of side effects when taking hormones. Ask your provider how much alcohol is safe for you and about ways to quit smoking, especially if you are considering surgery.

Treatments to delay the onset of puberty

For parents of children who would like to explore gender-affirming care, please contact their pediatrician, who can talk to you about your options.

Surgery to change primary sexual characteristics (genital and breast surgery)

For top surgery, one letter* of support is required. For bottom surgery, one letter* of support is required, as well as a letter* from Endocrinology, if applicable. See the Member Coverage Booklet for details. Additionally, you can contact Specialty Services .

While you’re getting ready for your surgery, it’s also important to stay in shape — that means eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Taking care of your health after surgery

After surgery, talk to your PCP about safe sex and being screened for sexually transmitted diseases. You’re also covered for preventive health services based on your birth anatomy, including screenings for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.

Gender Support Services

These may include:

Facial changes to make you look more feminine or masculine
Decreasing the size of your Adam’s apple
Chest implants
Voice modification surgery
Electrolysis (except when it’s a part of genital reconstruction)
Hair grafts or implants
Body contouring

Fertility Preservation

Consult with your primary care provider (PCP) in Internal Medicine, Student Health, or Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Mental Health Services

Your mental health is important to us, and you might seek the assistance of a mental health professional for a number of reasons throughout your gender identity journey. Your mental health provider will evaluate your readiness for the next steps in your treatment and make recommendations.

Magellan Health, 800-327-9240, provides these services for Yale Health members. If you need assistance navigating the Magellan network, you can contact Cheryl Doebrick at 203-436-5706.

Chosen Name

We are committed to creating a welcoming environment for everyone. We recognize that many of our members use a chosen first name rather than their legal name.

How to Share Your Chosen First Name with Us (Note that MyChart uses the term “preferred” name.)

During e-check under “Details about me” or at the kiosk.
When you check in at the front desk or schedule an appointment with the Call Center.

What Else You Can Expect

We will make every effort to use your chosen first name during your visit with us. (A legal name is sometimes required for things like medical claims and lab work.)
Your legal name may appear on communications with your chosen first name in “quotes.”
As we continue to work hard to create systems to collect and use your chosen first name, we apologize if there are times when we don’t get it right. Please let us know if this happens so we can partner with you to fix it.

Pronouns

You can request that your pronoun designation be added to your medical record when you meet with your provider.

Claims

You can contact the Claims Department to check the status or denials of your claims.

Referrals

You can contact the Referrals Department to check your referral status or denials.

Prescription Medications

You can consult the Yale Health Pharmacy with questions about your prescriptions, refills, etc.

Your Child’s Care

For questions and concerns related to your child’s gender care, contact your pediatrician, at 203-432-0206.

*A note about letter requirements:
A letter of support is required for each surgical procedure a patient wishes to undergo, and must be specific in nature with identifying the surgical procedure and indicating that the outcome of gender-affirming surgical intervention has been assessed, with risks and benefits being discussed with the patient. The letter must be timely in relation to the requested surgical procedure and will be considered appropriate when dated within six months of a given procedure.

Note: All single occupancy bathrooms at Yale Health are designated as All Gender. These bathrooms are available in all clinical departments.