Federal Policy
LGBTQ+ Adults Report Higher Health Care Cost Burdens and Access Barriers Than Non-LGBTQ+ Adults
A new report finds LGBTQ+ adults face significantly greater challenges affording and accessing health care compared to non-LGBTQ+ adults. The analysis documents disparities in cost-related barriers to care, provider access, and insurance coverage adequacy across LGBTQ+ populations. These findings inform Medicaid coverage and access policies affecting LGBTQ+ beneficiaries, particularly in managed care network adequacy standards, benefit design, and culturally competent care requirements. States with large LGBTQ+ Medicaid populations may use these data to evaluate whether current MCO contracts adequately address documented access disparities.
Why it mattersState Medicaid agencies and MCOs can use these findings to inform network adequacy standards, provider training requirements, and access monitoring for LGBTQ+ beneficiaries — particularly relevant where states have expanded coverage to LGBTQ+ populations or face federal scrutiny of discrimination in Medicaid programs.