Crowdfunding for Gender-Affirming Mastectomy: Balancing Fundraising With Loss of Privacy

Abstract

Introduction: Limitations in insurance coverage may cause patients to turn to crowdfunding to raise money for gender-affirming procedures. In this study, we analyze the impact of Medicaid insurance coverage on gender-affirming mastectomy campaigns posted on GoFundMe.com.

Methods: Between March 1 and 12, 2021, we accessed GoFundMe.com to analyze available campaigns requesting monetary contributions for gender-affirming mastectomy. Campaigns were identified using the search term "top surgery" followed by the state's name. Duplicate campaigns, campaigns whose primary goal was not gender-affirming mastectomy, and ongoing campaigns were excluded. Campaigns were then categorized according to their state's coverage of gender-affirming surgery: explicit exclusion (EE), explicit inclusion (EI), or no explicit statement of gender-affirming care. We collected data on the number of donors and shares, the fundraising goal, and the total amount raised for each campaign. Common themes within campaign narratives were identified and assessed by each reviewer. Finally, we collected data on the photographs posted by campaign creators.

Results: Our search yielded 790 campaigns, with an overall mean of 58 ± 99 donors and 212 ± 288 shares. The mean fundraising goal and amount raised among all campaigns were $6811 ± $5027 and $2579 ± $3072, respectively. Fundraising goals were most likely to be met in an EI state than an EE state (26.3% vs 8.1%; P < 0.001). The mean amount sought was highest in EE states and lowest in EI states, whereas the mean amount raised was lowest in EE states and highest in EI states. Of the campaigns, 97.1% mentioned personal or situational characteristics in the narrative section; 16.2% of all campaigns expressed negative feelings about posting on GoFundMe.com to raise money for their surgeries.

Conclusion: Disparities in health care coverage of gender-affirming surgeries were seen between state categories, with a decreased need for crowdfunding in states explicitly including coverage of gender-affirming surgery. Many transgender patients used crowdfunding to pay for transition-related health care costs, relying on the kindness of strangers and their social network at the expense of their personal privacy. Expansion of legislative coverage of gender-affirming surgeries may alleviate some of this financial burden and reduce transgender patients' reliance on crowdfunding campaigns.