Started digging into hormone replacement therapy costs last month after deciding to finally pursue it. Figured it wouldn’t be cheap but holy hell the sticker shock hit hard.
The Wake-Up Call
Went online first thinking “how bad could it really be?” Pulled up one of those telehealth platforms specializing in HRT. Their subscription model said $99 monthly just for provider access. Already sweating but kept clicking. Saw meds weren’t included. Bloodwork extra. This sht adds up fast.
Prescription Hunting
Drove to 3 different pharmacies with my first script. Got wildly different quotes for the same estrogen patches: $150, $89, and $120. Asked each cashier “why the price jump?” None could explain. Finally remembered GoodRx coupons after wasting half a tank of gas. Coupon brought it down to $68. Still made my eyes pop.
- Lab Work Rollercoaster: Doctor ordered quarterly blood tests. LabCorp website estimated $250 per test. Fainted internally.
- Insurance Runaround: Called my insurer’s “trans health coordinator” – yeah that’s a real position. Got transferred 5 times. One agent told me “trans care exclusions apply” before hanging up.
- DIY Backup Plans: Researched grey market suppliers as a last resort. Nervous sweat formed when seeing unregulated vials.
Reality Check
Totaled everything on a napkin: subscriptions, meds, blood tests, gas, wasted hours. Ballpark $300 monthly bare minimum. Threw the napkin away immediately. Real kicker? My insurance policy booklet had fine print denying “sex transformations.” Still fighting them over codes like Z00.00.
Sharing this because nobody warns you about the cash hemorrhage. Not chasing unicorns here – just want basic care without bankruptcy. Still tweaking my budget weekly. Might start baking sales at this rate.
