4 Benefits to Support Transgender Employees in Their Transition

Living a healthy life as your authentic self — that’s the ultimate goal, right?

For most transgender people, transitioning is a major step in living an authentic life. And just like with any other big life change, sometimes folks need some extra support.

Every transition journey is unique, so the most effective support isn't one-size-fits-all. For some (but not all), transitioning includes medical care to help them feel comfortable in their body. Some may benefit from other forms of support as well, like mental healthcare or financial wellness services.

But regardless of their health and wellness needs, transitioning isn’t a linear process, and there’s no distinct “finish line”; rather, living as one’s authentic self is a continuous journey throughout life. For that reason, the most effective benefits offerings for trans employees can meet them where they are to provide a range of care, services, and support.

Read on to learn more about four different types of benefits to help support your transgender employees through every step of their transition, as well as multiple vendors who provide those benefits.

Gender-affirming care

Many trans individuals choose to start gender-affirming hormone therapy to help them feel more comfortable in their body.

However, this kind of care is still out of reach for many, often due to a lack of awareness or specialized providers in their geographic areas. Although a range of providers have the ability to prescribe hormones, starting hormone therapy is not always as simple as asking a primary care doctor. Choosing a provider for this kind of care can come with risks, including the potential of being misgendered or receiving unpredictable care.

For that reason, it’s best to work with providers who are well-versed in transgender issues and have a history of administering gender-affirming hormone therapy. Offering your employees direct access to vendors that specialize in gender-affirming care can help control risks and get them the care they need, when they need it.

Plume provides gender-affirming hormone therapy via telehealth for the trans-community across the United States. Based in Denver, CO, Plume is trans-founded and has received backing from top-tier venture capital. Their mission is to create deeply affirming direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical services for the trans and broader queer community.

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Financial wellness benefits

The costs of gender-affirming medical care can really add up quickly, even with insurance.

Plus, many treatments — like facial feminization surgery or male chest reconstruction — are often deemed “not medically necessary” by insurance carriers, and therefore must be covered out-of-pocket.

To many folks, these costs are worth it for a lifetime of living authentically — but the price tag is still a major barrier to trans healthcare accessibility. When it comes time to manage those expenses, some extra support via financial wellness benefits can go a long way.

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Origin is a financial wellness benefit that combines cutting-edge technology with unlimited 1:1 financial guidance with Certified Financial Planners—helping employees make the most of their compensation, benefits, and personal finances.

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Northstar is a financial wellness program for employees. With innovative fintech tools and a team of in-house financial advisors, Northstar helps employees better utilize their total compensation and make financial decisions with more confidence.

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Mental health benefits

Mental health benefits can be an invaluable resource for employees who are navigating a transition — especially if they have access to a mental health provider who’s respectful of their gender identity and well-versed in caring for transgender patients.

Sesh provides digital, therapist-led group support for diverse topics. Sesh groups provide a differentiated service to employees worldwide and fill an urgent gap in the DEI and mental health ecosystems.

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Care management

For those who decide to seek medical care in their transition, the process can be filled with questions, confusion, and unknowns. With care management, they can work with experts to develop a comprehensive care plan for their unique health and wellness needs.

Sharecare is the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place. The Sharecare platform provides each person – no matter where they are in their health journey – with a comprehensive and personalized health profile, where they can dynamically and easily connect to the information, evidence-based programs and health professionals they need to live their healthiest, happiest and most productive life.

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