Donald Trump's administration has implemented measures that prohibit Medicaid from funding gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender youth. The State Children's Health Insurance Program will not cover treatments for children under 19 years of age, reports CBS News.

This change adds to a series of policies aimed at limiting health care for this population. The new regulation will go into effect on October 13, 2026. At least 27 states have already banned gender-affirming medical care for those under 18 years of age.

Although it is worth noting that gender affirmation surgeries are rare, treatments with puberty and hormonal blockers are more common.

Reactions and defense

This provision has brought controversy not only in the community of LGBTQ rights defenders, but also high reactions.

Contrary opinions. LGBTQ rights advocates criticize the measure, arguing that it hinders parents in making medical decisions for their children. “The Trump administration is terrorizing transgender youth and their families with these types of actions, and this has to stop,” Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. A legal challenge against this regulation is anticipated.

Administration Statements. Trump has defended the ban on social media, cataloging these treatments as “barbaric” practices that cause harm to young people. “We will not pay for our innocent children to undergo these barbaric surgeries and practices, which cause unimaginable and irreversible damage to their young bodies,” Mr. Trump said in a post.

Implications for the health sector

The American Medical Association and other relevant organizations support access to gender-affirming health care, although a recent report questions the effectiveness of surgeries in minors. Additionally, the administration has cut funding for hospitals that provide this care.

The policy has generated legal challenges and controversy nationwide. The Supreme Court has upheld some of these changes, while others remain in dispute, which could have implications for access to health care for transgender youth.

Treatment Alternatives for Transgender Youth

In US states that restrict gender-affirming health care, the alternatives are often psychosocial support, general health care, and, when legal and possible, coordinated out-of-state access. Options depend on state law, age, family consent, and clinical situation; They do not replace an individual evaluation.

Available options

What to avoid

Hormone therapy should not be abruptly stopped or medications modified without talking to the medical team, because it can cause physical and emotional effects. Hormones purchased online or shared should also not be used, due to risks of incorrect doses, counterfeit products and lack of controls. State bans have primarily restricted puberty blockers and hormone therapies to minors, although the exact scope changes by state and may be subject to litigation. The US Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Skrmetti allowed Tennessee's ban to remain in place, while other states maintain different legal regimes.

Practical steps

The safest option is to develop an individual plan with a pediatrician, a mental health professional and, when there is legal uncertainty, an attorney specializing in LGBTQ rights and health.

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