Health insurance coverage and health outcomes among transgender adults in the United States

This study provides evidence of health and insurance coverage disparities between the cisgender and transgender US populations using repeated cross sections from the 2014–2020 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Systems. The analysis tests whether increasing the incidence of insurance coverage among transgender people could alleviate the health disparity. The empirical approach uses a fuzzy regression discontinuity design that leverages breaks in government health assistance eligibility by age. Results indicate that, for transgender recipients only, insurance coverage meaningfully improves mental health; for cisgender recipients only, insurance coverage reduces difficulties with concentration and memory; and for both the transgender and cisgender populations, insurance coverage contributes to important improvements in physical health, overall health, and healthcare access.