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Accessing Gender Affirming Surgeries on Alaska State Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions

To start your surgery journey, book an appointment with your Identity provider to get a referral.

  1. What surgeries will Alaska state medicaid cover?
    1. Breast augmentation X1 procedure (if failure of hormone therapy).
    2. Urethroplasty, penectomy, vaginoplasty, vulvoplasty, labiaplasty, and clitoroplasty
    3. Vaginectomy, urethroplasty, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty with implantation of penile prosthesis, and scrotoplasty with insertion of testicular implants
    4. Hysterectomy- removal of a uterus
    5. Mastectomy- removal of breast tissues
    6. Oophorectomy- removal of ovaries
    7. Orchiectomy- removal of testicles
    8. Salpingectomy- removal of fallopian tubes
    9. Vulvectomy- removal of a vulva
  1. Which of these surgeries can I access in Alaska (Anchorage)?
    1. Hysterectomy, oophorectomy, salpingectomy
      1. Alaska Women’s Health
    2. Mastectomy
      1. Alaska Breast Care (one approach only)
      2. Dr. Laurie Bleicher- 907-561-2533
    3. Breast Augmentation
      • Dr. Laurie Bleicher- 907-561-2533
    4. Orchiectomy
      1. Alaska Urology
  1. Where do I access the surgeries not done in Alaska?
    1. For gender affirming vulvovaginoplasty, metoidioplasty, and phalloplasty, Alaska state medicaid is contracted with two Seattle hospitals: Seattle Children’s and Harborview. People under the age of 25 go to Seattle Children’s. 25 and older go to Harborview.
  1. What are the average wait times:
    1. Referrals to Alaska Women’s Health for hysterectomy, oophorectomy, and/or salpingectomy have a 4-6 week wait time to consult and a 1-3 month wait time for surgery after consult.
    2. Referrals to Alaska Breast Care for mastectomy have a 3-6 month wait time to consult and a 3-6 month wait time for surgery after consult.
    3. Referrals to Alaska Urology for orchiectomy have a 3-6 week wait time to consult and a 1-3 month wait time for surgery after consult.
    4. Referrals to Seattle Children’s for most surgeries have a 6-9 month wait time to consult and a 12-24 month wait time for surgery after consult. Referrals for surgery have to be internal, so patients have to be seen at Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic prior to accessing surgery referrals.
    5. Referrals to Harborview for most surgeries currently have a 30+ month wait time to consult and a 24 month wait time for surgery after consult (written in October 2023.)
  1. How do I pay for my travel? Alaska state medicaid will pay for your travel (airfare, taxis, and meals). This has to be arranged through your referring provider and is a very challenging process. Connect with Identity’s social work team to learn more. You can also review the Medicaid Handbook here. 
  1. How do I pay for my lodgings? Alaska state medicaid will pay for your lodgings. This has to be arranged through your referring provider and is a very challenging process. Connect with Identity’s social work team to learn more. You can also review the Medicaid Handbook here. 
  1. Who takes care of me after surgery? You will need to arrange for a friend or family member to be with you after surgery. Alaska state medicaid will pay for their travel and lodgings. This has to be arranged through your referring provider and is a very challenging process. Connect with Identity’s social work team to learn more. You can also review the Medicaid Handbook here. 
  1. How do I learn more about preparing for surgery, surgery options, and recovery from surgery? Dr. Beal’s QueerDoc website has so much great information on all things surgery.
  1. How do I access hair removal before surgery? Identity is working to offer hair removal on site for which we could bill insurance. Currently, you will need to pay out-of-pocket for hair removal. You can find clinic options here.

*** Disclaimer

Any of these articles are for entertainment, informational, and general educational purposes only and should not be considered to be healthcare advice or medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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