The Washington State Attorney General’s Office has published Know Your Rights: Gender Affirming Care. It’s fantastic. Thanks, Washington!
Get a copy here.
See it here:
What Are The Highlights?
Your Right to Gender Affirming Care—for both youth and adults—is legal and protected in Washington State.
How Are Your Rights Protected?
WA State laws protect access to care:
- Gender affirming care is legal for both minors and adults in Washington state.
- Medically-necessary gender affirming care is required to be covered by state-regulated plans, including Apple Health.
- State employee health plans explicitly cover gender affirming care.
- Care may only be denied if a provider with experience in gender care reviews the denial and agrees that there is a medical reason to do so.
- Providers may refuse to cover or provide gender affirming care, but they have to tell the patient how to get that care quickly.
- Providers and insurers may not discriminate on the basis of gender or gender expression.
What About the Shield Law?
- Washington entities may not participate in out-of-state legal proceedings related to gender affirming care. This includes courts, law enforcement, and Washington companies.
- Washington health care providers and their families can choose to protect their identities via the WA State Address Confidentiality Program.
- People who obtain gender affirming care in Washington may sue out-of-state officials for interfering with that healthcare.
What About Youth Rights To Care?
- Gender Affirming Care is legal for minors under 18 in Washington State.
- Licensed youth shelters in Washington may not contact parents or guardians of youth staying at those shelters when they are seeking gender-affirming care.
- The shelter must alert the Department of Children, Youth, and Families within 72 hours of the youths’ arrival.
- Public school staff may not share any confidential health or educational information about a student unless required by law or the student has consented. This applies to parents, guardians, other students, staff, and people not associated with the school.
We see patients of all ages at QueerDoc: we have no lower age limit.
For patients and families who live in ban states, yes, we can see you, but you will need to travel for appointments. Request a free introductory appointment to learn more (see the button at the top of the page!) Travel assistance is available.
Appointments: Getting Care At QueerDoc
QueerDoc’s Response to the 1/28/25 Youth Care Ban Executive Order
Navigating Youth Care Access After the Youth Care Ban Executive Order
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