#Lgbtq folx how to#

But beyond keeping workers and their families healthy, which leads to higher employee retention and productivity, employers have the opportunity to be on the right side of history, says Nations. Nations firmly believes it would be in employers' best interest to actionably support LGBTQ access to healthcare. Employers will be shocked at the experiences that this community has today.'įrom providers flat-out refusing to care for a queer patient to even accusing the patient of being mentally ill for their gender identity and sexual orientation, the LGBTQ community risk their physical and mental well-being when they see the doctor who does not understand or support their situation. 'I encourage employers to survey their employees and hear from those willing to raise their hand and identify. 'If you can't find access to care or a provider who understands and validates your gender identity and sexual orientation, you will just start avoiding care altogether,' he says. Read more: This new tech platform helps young queer professionals connect with inclusive companies Once a patient wishes to take their care to an in-person provider, FOLX helps identify clinicians within that patient's locale and insurance network using its own database of 20,000 providers who have experience working with LGBTQ patients. 'We can get that down to a matter of days. 'It can take five, six or seven months to see a provider, especially for the transgender population,' says Nations. Since users can make their appointment online, they can avoid long wait times or traveling long distances. Through FOLX, users can access virtual primary care services alongside access to birth control, family-building resources, gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy, care navigation and PrEP, which is an HIV-prevention drug. Nation emphasizes two essential features for an LGBTQ-inclusive health plan: a virtual model and a knowledgeable provider network. Nations asks employers to consider if their health plan can help their queer employees seek care, or if it acts as another deterrent.

#Lgbtq folx how to#

Read more: Does your company have 'diversity fatigue'? How to get out of your DEI slump 'In many cases, this community has to educate their provider more than the provider educates them.' 'I hear this both in the market and in my own house,' says Nations. FOLX notes that half of the LGBTQ community reports some form of healthcare discrimination. Nations underlines that even if an employer has a large medical provider network with their insurance plan, queer employees may still struggle to find a doctor who can address their needs. In fact, FOLX Health began partnering with employers as an employee benefit after noticing that many of their consumers came to their platform after having trouble finding a provider through their employer-provided health plan. 'But the number one challenge that people are facing in many cases is just access to care.' 'There's a wide variety of challenges that face this community - I see it myself as a dad of a trans daughter, and I see it every single day in our work at FOLX,' he says. Read more: LGBTQ workers and ERGs took action in the face of monkeypox