At QueerDoc, we’re all about raising the bar in gender affirming healthcare. That means longer visits, consent-driven care, culturally humble providers, and expert trans medicine delivered without the runaround. But there’s one big limitation we want to be transparent about:
👉 We can’t see clients with Medicare.
Yeah, we know. It sucks. And trust us, we wish it weren’t this way. But here’s the truth: it’s about fraud. Or more specifically, the risk of being accused of it.
So wait—what’s the deal with Medicare?
Medicare is a federal program, and the rules for it are different from private insurance. If a provider hasn’t formally opted out of Medicare—like us at QueerDoc—they can’t offer fee-for-service care to anyone with Medicare coverage. Doing so, even if we don’t bill Medicare and even if you say “I’ll pay out-of-pocket,” is considered Medicare fraud.
💡This applies to all services for Medicare-covered conditions. We can’t skirt the rules. No grey areas. No workarounds. If you’re covered by Medicare, we cannot treat you without being at risk of fraud which would close our clinic.
Why hasn’t QueerDoc opted out?
Because opting out of Medicare would limit our ability to offer care at practices other then QueerDoc, plus:
- Medicare has confusing and rigid reimbursement policies.
- Their rules are more likely to put small practices (especially queer-led ones like us) at risk of audit or fraud accusations.
- The admin burden? Off. The. Charts.
We’re stuck between a rock and a bureaucracy.
We’re a tiny, mighty, trans-led team doing the work with integrity. And for now, staying out of Medicare is how we keep our clinic—and you—safe.
Okay… so what can I do if I have Medicare?
Let’s talk options:
1. Work with a provider who has opted into Medicare
Look for clinics or providers who’ve enrolled and bill Medicare directly. You can use the Medicare Provider Search tool or call your local LGBTQ+ center for referrals.
- LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory
- OutCare Directory
- WPATH
- Everywhere is Queer
- Also see our Virtual Resources page for other telehealth clinics
If you need further support finding a provider, we recommend working with Trans Family Support Services or your local LGBTQ+ community center who may be able to help connect you with care for free!
2. Seek out community health centers or Planned Parenthood
Many of these orgs offer gender affirming care and accept Medicare. Care may be more limited or standardized—but it’s a valid and accessible option.
TL;DR:
- If you have Medicare, we cannot see you—even if you want to pay out-of-pocket.
- Doing so could be considered Medicare fraud.
- We’re protecting you and our clinic.
- We’ve linked other potential care options for you here in this blog!
We see you. We care. And we’re not giving up on building a future where expert gender affirming care is available to everyone, regardless of the insurance alphabet soup.