Medi-Cal: TGI Health
Starting October 13, 2026, the federal government will stop paying for some gender-affirming care for youth.
TGI Health & Medi-Cal
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) would like to remind providers that all medically necessary gender-affirming care services for Medi-Cal members are covered and Medi-Cal’s policies have not changed. Medi-Cal’s gender-affirming care policies are described in the Transgender and Gender Diverse Services section of the provider manual. The gender-affirming care benefits and policy in the provider manual apply to Medi-Cal members of all gender identities as long as the service is medically necessary and meets all other requirements for Medi-Cal coverage.
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The 2026 PRIDE toolkit was created to help event organizers educate attendees about sexual health issues including mpox vaccination and HIV and STI testing while providing connections to services that will help keep them and their communities healthy. You will find posters, flyers, and sticker art files to choose from along with step-by-step instructions on how to produce these materials for distribution at your PRIDE event.
Registered Nursing | Supporting the Transgender Community: Gender Affirming Care Resources →
These resources are made available to anyone in the healthcare field, preparing as a student to work with diverse populations, including gender non-conforming youth, allies, educators, the transgender community, and more. You'll find research articles, helpful websites, links to organizations, and even legal and healthcare resources here. They hope you find these resources informative and helpful, no matter what part of your journey.
For more resources that broadly serve TJI and LGBTQ+ immigrant patients, please refer to the "LGBTQ+" page under "For Families & Patients." It includes free and affordable gender-affirming care, legal assistance, and intersectional community groups.
Gender-Affirming Care for Youth
Starting October 13, 2026, the federal government will stop paying for some gender-affirming care for youth. This affects Medi-Cal members under age 18 and CHIP members under age 19 who get certain services for gender dysphoria, meaning they feel distressed because the way they feel about their gender is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
The state of California is creating a state funded program through HCAI so that youth can keep getting the care they need. As of October 2026, they will still reimburse providers and cover services when medically necessary, including for gender dysphoria.
Treatments no longer paid for with federal Medicaid or CHIP dollars but will be paid for by the State through HCAI:
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Medications, including puberty blockers and hormone treatments
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Surgeries
Medi-Cal will still cover medically necessary services such as:
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Doctor visits
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Speech therapy
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Lab tests
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Mental and behavioral health care
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Care for problems from past surgeries
For patients already getting hormones:
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Youth already taking gender-affirming hormones as of October 13, 2026 can keep getting them through Medi-Cal until April 12, 2027. After that, the State will continue paying for them outside of Medi-Cal through a new program at the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). ​
California Department of Health Care Access and Information:
Gender Affirming Care Services for Youth: What Providers Need to Know âž”
DHCS Medi-Cal Providers:
Gender Affirming Care Services Provider Manual (updated October 2026) âž”
This section contains policy information for Medi-Cal members who receive medically necessary services that do not match their gender assigned at birth. This may also differ from the gender identified on their Medi-Cal enrollment records