In the last ten years, the number of Americans who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) has nearly doubled. Gen Z and millennials are more likely to do so
. LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. have long endured severe prejudice, including being unjustly labeled as mentally ill and subjected to criminal laws. The healthcare and social needs of the LGBTQ+ community vary at different stages of their life. However,
find it very challenging to find individual care for their specific healthcare needs, due to cis-heteronormativity practices in healthcare systems and the discriminatory attitude of healthcare professionals towards this community. This marginalization has contributed to poor health outcomes, including higher rates of mental health issues,
, and chronic conditions within the community.
Healthcare policy
Over the past two decades, several important legislative and policy developments have addressed healthcare disparities faced by the LGBTQ+ community, the Obama-era government played a key role in this. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Section 1557 was a landmark piece of legislation for LGBT+ healthcare, it prohibits discrimination based on sex, understood to include gender identity and sexual orientation, in federally funded health programs like
Medicaid and Medicare. The
U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Bostock v. The Clayton County case in 2020, further strengthened protections under the ACA and other federal laws. Despite recent advances, access to gender-affirming health care for minors and young adults is shifting across the country. In contrast to ACA policies that promote non-discrimination in health care access, a growing number of states are pushing anti-LGBTQ+ laws and banning access to gender-affirming health care.
Disparities in access to care
The LGBTQ+ people face unique challenges in accessing healthcare in the U.S., many have reported
refusals to care by healthcare providers, resulting in negative experiences. The LGBTQ+ health disparities that are driven by discrimination, stigma, and violence have led many to change their healthcare-seeking behavior. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts to report that they have
delayed or avoided getting preventive screenings or needed medical care. Adults who identify as LGBT+ were also more likely to report difficulties getting access to mental health treatments. Policymakers will need to take a number of steps to address discrimination against LGBTQ+ groups to guarantee that the LGBT+ population in the U.S. has equitable access to healthcare benefits.
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