Online Gender Affirming Care
Same and next day availabilities
Remote appointments from your home
Affirming care environment
Availabilities Today
Frequently accepted plans with
Many more!
Why Circle Medical
2 million+
Video appointments held
300,000+
Patients treated
Insurance accepted
In network with most HMO plans
25+
Clinics in the USA
400+
Available providers
Therapy referrals
Available for patients in need
How care works
Intake appointment (30 min)
- Your provider will review your medical and gender affirming history with you.
- We will ask you for your previous provider so that we may coordinate having your medical records sent over to our practice.
- Your provider will order blood work, if needed.2
$120 cash pay
$0-40 average copay1 for insured patients*
2 week follow up (20 min)
- Your provider will review the results of your blood work, your medical records, and discuss informed consent3.
- Your provider will create a care plan that is unique to you and answer questions you may have about care4.
$120 cash pay
$0-40 average copay1 for insured patients*
Check-in appointments every 3 months⁵ (20 mins)
Follow up appointments may occur with your provider every 1-3 months to ensure that you are meeting your gender affirming goals. If medically appropriate, your provider may discuss adjustments to your dosage and care plan as well
$120 cash pay
$0-40 average copay1 for insured patients*
Additional information
* This an example of the cadence most care plans tend to follow. However, your care plan and cadence may vary based on your individual medical history and other factors.
(1) Out of pocket costs will depend on your individual insurance plan, but are typically in the $0-$35 range per appointment. You can see an out of pocket cost estimate if you begin to book an appointment with Circle Medical.
(2) Your provider will review your most recent blood work, especially if it is within the last 3 months, and determine if additional blood work is necessary. Blood work requirements will be determined by your provider during an appointment. Costs will vary based on lab and blood work required.
(3) Circle Medical does not always require a therapist letter in order to confirm informed consent. Please read through the FAQ for more details.
(4) PLEASE NOTE: A hormone prescription, or any other medications, are not always guaranteed. Your primary care provider will review your past medical history and blood work to determine which care options are right for you.
(5) This is Circle Medical's standard practice for ongoing care.
We accept most PPO plans
If you want to verify if your plan is covered with us, select an appointment time and create an account to submit your insurance. You will not be required to book an appointment to verify your insurance plan.
Want to know more about pricing? Read our FAQs
We can't accept patients with Medicaid or Medi-Cal insurance.
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In the last 180 days, 1,759 patients have given their Hormone Therapy providers an average rating of 4.98 / 5, with 97% of respondents giving a 4 or a 5.
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Join 65,000+ patients taking control of their health at Circle Medical.
As a full-service, adult-only, primary care practice, Circle Medical's team of board-certified providers specialize in treating the whole you.
The Circle Medical Difference:
100% board-certified primary care providers
Takes into account your full health picture
Compassionate, comprehensive, evidence-based care
25+ clinics and an easy-to-use app
Our providers deliver the latest in affirming and evidence-driven care.
Our providers are vetted according to strict quality of care protocols.
Circle Medical is making delightful healthcare accessible. To everyone.
Who is a good candidate for GAHT?
Our practice provides both masculinizing and feminizing gender affirming care, when medically appropriate, for adults 18+. Receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy is a personal decision.
Our goal is to make sure that all people 18+ who want to do so can access safe, gender-affirming care from experienced clinicians.
If you decide that gender affirming hormone therapy is right for you, and is clinically indicated, your provider can assist with:
- Feminizing hormone therapy with estrogen, progesterone, or a hormone blocker (such as spironolactone or finasteride).
- Masculinizing hormone therapy with the use of testosterone. These could be in the form of pills, topical creams, or a self injection. Your provider will assist you in deciding the right care plan for you.
How can I learn more about Circle Medical's trans care?
As a patient, you will have unlimited access to message your care team through our secure in-app chat.
Prescriptions for hormones (such as testosterone, estradiol, or progesterone), and hormone blockers (such as spironolactone or finasteride) are all available through our practice and may be prescribed if they are appropriate for your specific situation.
Don't take our word for it.
We are trusted by over 50,000 patients every month. Here's what they have to say.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy
Can anyone receive gender-affirming hormone therapy through Circle Medical?
States available for gender affirming care: CA, VA, WA, IL, PA, NY, MD, TX, OR, MA, DC, AZ, CO, WI, IA, ME, NJ, NM, UT, SC, NV, VT, OK.
There may be instances where your provider may recommend that you see a specialist for gender affirming hormone therapy based on your history. The decision to provide care is always up to the providers discretion
How does the process work? Do I need to bring anything to my appointment?
If you don't have labwork done yet, your provider will place a lab order through Quest or LabCorp to be completed. Your results will be uploaded to the app automatically.
Some providers may request that you obtain a letter from a therapist indicating that you have spoken with them about gender-affirming care. You can upload this letter via the app. Note that this letter request is at the provider's discretion.
You can use our in-app chat to message your care team and provider as you complete the labwork.
If medically indicated, your prescriptions will be sent to a pharmacy near you.
You will then follow up with your provider at an agreed upon cadence to see how your care plan is going and to ensure you are meeting your gender affirming goals.
Am I required to have a letter from a therapist prior to beginning gender affirming hormone therapy?
Often, we will not require a letter from a therapist or mental health professional prior to beginning gender affirming care. However, there are select times in which we may ask for a letter from a therapist, or mental health professional. For example, we may ask for a letter if a patient is unsure of their gender affirming goals and/or is new to exploring gender affirming therapy and is unsure whether starting gender affirming care is right for them.
Our goal is to improve access to high quality and delightful primary care. Gender affirming care is within the scope of primary care and we are focused on creating a safe environment for people to receive care.
What states do you operate in?
You must be currently residing in the state of care as well as have your primary pharmacy be in that same state in order to be a patient at our practice.
How do I know if hormone therapy is right for me?
Your clinician will be able to discuss your care options with you and answer any questions you may have, about gender-affirming care or about any other health topic you may want to discuss in a safe environment.
How does lab testing work?
Providers
What type of provider am I seeing through Circle Medical?
Do I need to book my appointment with a doctor (MD or DO), or can I book my appointment with any provider (PA-C, NP, etc)?
How long are the appointments?
Billing
What is the total cost of gender-affirming care and my care plan?
Your other costs include the cost of the medication(s) at the pharmacy (we recommend using GoodRx coupons to lower this cost), and the cost of any lab work or hormone testing at the lab.
With Insurance
$5 - $50 average out of pocket cost* 1st appointment
$5 - $50 average out of pocket cost* 2nd appointment
$10 - $100* total, with $5 - $50* monthly follow-ups once stable.
*Note: Your specific out of pocket cost is dependent on your health insurance coverage. We typically see patients with out of pocket costs of around $0-$50 per appointment, but this can be higher if you have a high-deductible plan and have not yet hit your deductible this year. To confirm your specific copay estimate, you can click to book an appointment and you will be asked to input your insurance information so that you can receive your cost estimate before confirming the appointment.
Our ability to estimate your costs is dependent on your healthcare insurance's database, so we do not guarantee that the estimate you see is the exact amount you will be billed. For the most accurate estimate of your per-appointment costs, we recommend calling the phone number on the back of your insurance card to ask your insurance plan what your primary care appointment costs are.
Without Insurance (out of network or uninsured)
$120 per appointment
Your specific follow-up appointment timeline may vary depending on what your provider recommends.
Insurance
What insurance do you accept?
To verify if we work with your insurance, simply start booking an appointment online. You will be prompted to enter your insurance details and will receive eligibility results instantly as well as an estimate of your appointment cost prior to confirming your appointment.
Some PPO plans that we currently work with are:
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, Health Net, Humana, and United Healthcare.
Plans that we cannot work with are:
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide care for patients who have Medi-Cal or Medicaid insurance. This is because we are not licensed Medi-Cal or Medicaid providers, so we are not able to provide care, even if these patients choose to pay cash instead of use their insurance. If you have Medi-Cal or Medicaid, please do not book an appointment with us, as we will be unable to provide care even if you do not enter your insurance information. We apologize about this.
Other
Do new patients need to prepare anything for their first appointment at Circle Medical?
How to Prepare for Your First Appointment
Read more about Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
Overview of feminizing hormone therapy
Feminizing hormone therapy is a medical intervention that helps individuals
match their physical attributes more closely with their gender identity.
This typically involves medications such as estrogen, progesterone or
hormone blockers.
Estrogen is a hormone predominantly found in females. Estrogen triggers the growth
of secondary sexual traits. Changes may include the development of breasts, a
decrease in muscle mass and redistribution of body fat. Meanwhile, hormone blockers
slow the production of testosterone, minimizing its influence on the body. This
helps to reduce physical characteristics typically associated with males.
Remember to regularly consult your health care provider throughout feminizing
hormone therapy. They can help monitor progress, manage side effects and adjust
treatment as needed.
Overview of masculinizing hormone therapy
Masculinizing hormone therapy is a medical intervention that helps
individuals match their physical attributes more closely with their gender
identity. Masculinizing hormone therapy uses testosterone in the form of
pills, topical creams or self-injection.
Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the emergence of secondary sex characteristics
typically associated with males. Changes such as growth of facial and body hair,
increased muscle mass and voice deepening may occur when taking testosterone.
Remember to consult your health care provider throughout your masculinizing hormone
therapy. They can monitor progress, help manage side effects and adjust your
treatment as necessary.
How to start online hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as an adult
If you're interested in starting hormone replacement therapy, finding a
primary care provider will be the first step. Make sure to choose a provider
that offers HRT and understands the needs of LGBTQ+ patients, like Circle
Medical.
Once you find a provider, the first step will be an intake appointment. This
involves reviewing your medical history with your provider, discussing your goals
for HRT and having blood work ordered. You will then schedule a follow-up appointment
where your provider will review your blood work with you and, if appropriate,
prescribe the appropriate HRT medications.
It's important to understand that hormone replacement therapy is an ongoing process
that requires patience and an open dialogue with your health care provider. After
starting HRT, you will have follow-up appointments to track progress, adjust
dosage as necessary and discuss any changes or side effects you experience. By
working with your health care provider, you can make significant steps to align
your physical characteristics with your gender identity.
How to get a quality LGBTQ+ health care from the comfort of your home
It can sometimes be difficult to access LGBTQ+-focused care, especially if
you live in a remote or rural area. Fortunately, there are online solutions.
Circle Medical is a full-stack primary care clinic that offers comprehensive
LGBTQ+ care.
It's easy to make an appointment to discuss HRT with a Circle Medical provider.
You can make an online appointment that is convenient for your schedule and speak
to a provider from the comfort of your home. Make an appointment with Circle
Medical today to get started on your healthcare journey.