Why It Matters
A substantial share of LGBTQ+ adults are skipping or delaying necessary medical care due to cost and other barriers, raising questions about health equity and the adequacy of insurance coverage across Louisiana and nationally. When preventive and routine care are deferred, downstream health complications and medical debt often follow.
What Happened
A survey of 2,640 LGBTQ+ adults conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that members of this population report significantly higher rates of missed or forgone healthcare compared to non-LGBTQ+ peers. The disparity is most acute among transgender individuals, younger adults, those with lower incomes, and the uninsured.
Transgender adults represented 9% of the survey sample. Among uninsured LGBTQ+ adults, more than three-quarters reported missing needed care in the past year. Even among insured LGBTQ+ adults, roughly one-third reported experiencing insurance denials for medical services.
Beyond missed appointments, LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to forgo prescription medications due to cost and to carry medical debt. One-third of LGBTQ+ respondents reported their health worsened after missing or delaying care.
By the Numbers
6 in 10 — LGBTQ+ adults who missed needed healthcare in the past year
38% — non-LGBTQ+ adults who missed needed healthcare in the past year
22% — LGBTQ+ adults forgoing prescription medications due to cost
12% — non-LGBTQ+ adults forgoing prescription medications due to cost
30% — LGBTQ+ adults reporting worsened health from skipped or delayed care
32% — insured LGBTQ+ adults reporting insurance denials
20 percentage points — additional gap in care-forgoing between LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ adults under age 30
Disparities by Demographics
The survey revealed sharper health declines among LGBTQ+ women than men. Sixty-three percent of LGBTQ+ women reported worsened health outcomes compared to 46% of LGBTQ+ men. Transgender adults fell between those figures, with 45% reporting health declines.
Age also correlates with care gaps. LGBTQ+ adults under 30 were significantly more likely to skip care than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts of the same age. That gap narrows considerably for adults over 65.
Zoom Out
Healthcare access disparities among LGBTQ+ populations reflect national patterns of unequal treatment and affordability challenges. Insurance coverage alone does not guarantee adequate care; the higher denial rate among insured LGBTQ+ adults suggests that structural barriers within the insurance system itself may contribute to gaps. Rising medical debt and the choice between medications and other necessities plague many Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, though this survey indicates LGBTQ+ adults experience these pressures at elevated rates.
What’s Next
The findings may inform discussions around insurance regulation, provider training, and healthcare access initiatives. Policymakers examining health equity may use this data to evaluate whether current coverage standards and provider networks adequately serve LGBTQ+ populations and whether additional protections or outreach are warranted.