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Examining Gender-Based Discrimination in Health Care Access by Gender Identity in Minnesota

Authors: Jeremy Duval, Natalie Mac Arthur, Kathleen Call

Introduction

Many barriers exist to creating an equitable health care experience for LGBTQ+ individuals. One critical barrier is gender-based discrimination from providers within health care systems. The biennial 2021 Minnesota Health Access Survey (MNHA) asked respondents how often their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression causes health care providers to treat them unfairly. We compared rates of gender-based discrimination and health care access in the Minnesota adult population and examined differences in access to care among cisgender (cis) and gender minorities who report gender-based discrimination (see Definition Box). We explored the impact of gender-based discrimination on health care access by comparing access rates among people who did and did not experience discrimination for cis men, cis women, transgender and non-binary populations in Minnesota. 

Results

The majority (58.9%) of transgender (trans) and non-binary respondents reported experiencing gender-based discrimination from health care providers in 2021—a stark contrast from the statewide average of 6.0% (Figure 1). Cis women also reported gender-based discrimination (7.7%) above the population average, while cis men were less likely to experience this form of discrimination (2.9%). Gender-based discrimination was especially high for both non-binary (63.9%) and trans (48.8%) respondents. Due to sample size limitations, these populations were combined in the remainder of our analyses.

Figure 1. Unfair treatment from health care providers based on gender in Minnesota


^ Rate significantly different from All Adults at the 95% confidence level.
Source: SHADAC analysis of the 2021 Minnesota Health Access Survey.

We also found differences in health care access among trans and non-binary people compared with the adult Minnesota population, particularly for confidence in getting care and forgoing needed care due to cost (Figure 2). We found that trans and non-binary respondents were similar to cis men in rates of having a usual source of care and having a medical visit (non-emergency) in the past year. Compared with the adult population in Minnesota, cis men were more likely to lack these forms of care, while cis women had better access to regular medical visits and a usual source of care. However, differences from the state average did not reach significance for trans and non-binary respondents, likely due to small sample size. Nearly a third (30.1%) of trans and non-binary adults had low confidence in getting necessary care compared to an average of 11.8% for adults in Minnesota. Over half (57.1%) of trans and non-binary people reported forgone care—more than double the average (26.2%).

Figure 2. Health care use and barriers to care

^ Rate significantly different from All Adults at the 95% confidence level.
† Estimate may be unreliable due to limited data (relative standard error greater than or equal to 30%).
Source: SHADAC analysis of the 2021 Minnesota Health Access Survey.

Figure 3. Experiences of gender-based discrimination associated with barriers to health care access

* Significant difference within a given subpopulation between rates of people who experienced unfair treatment and those who did not.
† Estimate may be unreliable due to limited data (relative standard error greater than or equal to 30%).
Source: SHADAC analysis of the 2021 Minnesota Health Access Survey.

Discussion

A worryingly high proportion of trans and non-binary adults reported gender-based discrimination and had forgone care or did not have confidence in getting needed care. This lack of confidence could be in part due to experienced or anticipated discrimination within a health care setting. Barriers to care were especially high among those who had experienced gender-based discrimination, which suggests that discrimination has a serious negative impact on health care access for trans and non-binary people.

We found higher rates of gender-based discrimination (58.9%) among trans and non-binary adults in Minnesota in 2021 compared to previously published literature on gender-based discrimination. National data indicate that between 20% and 40% of LGBTQ+ Americans experience discrimination while accessing health services (Kattari & Hasche, 2016), (Kachen & Pharr, 2020), (Penrose et al, 2020), (Rodriguez, Agardh & Asamoah, 2018), (Shires & Jaffee, 2015). Additionally, over 20% of the LGBTQ+ population avoided seeking health care due to anticipated discrimination (Kcomt et al, 2020). Notably, the majority of previously published estimates of trans peoples’ experiences of health care discrimination come from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, which was conducted in 2016 and provides rich data, but for a specialized and non-probability sample. Such data are not considered generalizable. A strength of the MNHA survey is that it measures discrimination using a probability sample of adults reporting their gender identity.

Gender-based discrimination is just one factor affecting health care access. Gender minorities may additionally face disproportionate rates of other key barriers to access, such as lack of insurance coverage (Gonzales & Henning-Smith, 2017). Regardless, we found large gaps in health care access for trans people, non-binary people, and all people who experienced gender-based discrimination.

Conclusion

When the majority of a population is experiencing discrimination within health care systems, it is clear that change is necessary. Our data, based on a probability sample of Minnesotans, helps address gaps in knowledge about barriers transgender and non-binary adults face in accessing health care. The high rates of gender-based discrimination among gender minorities illustrate that gender-inclusive data collection is important for health equity.

However, quantifying rates of discrimination only scratches the surface of the true problem. Because of the limited sample size of gender minority adults, we were unable to explore the role of other social factors in gender-based discrimination and health care barriers by gender identity. Race, ethnicity, and class likely intersect to exacerbate experiences of discrimination and barriers to care for gender minorities. For example, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native transgender women face disproportionate rates of victimization, and these experiences may impact their health care needs and intensify barriers to accessing care (Reisner, 2018). In this analysis, we only looked at gender identity; our future studies will look at sexual orientation with a similar lens and examine these two together.

One of the largest barriers to understanding discrimination and its effects on health access is data collection. Not all surveys collect and report inclusive data on gender identity, which makes it very hard to track access for trans and non-binary people. Even when gender-inclusive data are available, gender-based discrimination is rarely measured. Direct measurement of discrimination is essential for monitoring rates of discrimination in health care settings and associated barriers to care (Lett et al., 2022).

In Minnesota, state-level policies make this type of measurement possible. Historically, Minnesota has strong anti-discrimination laws in place to protect gender-diverse individuals. For example, Minnesota was one of the first states to allow an “X” option for gender on licenses (Walsh, 2018). Yet, we found alarmingly high reports of gender-based discrimination in health care among gender minorities in this state. The level of gender-based discrimination may be even higher in other states with less inclusive policies. Consequently, our results suggest that on a national level, gender-based discrimination in health care may affect a substantial number of Americans.

Understanding the full scope of gender-based discrimination in Minnesota and across the U.S. should be a priority in future research to support health equity. Our data contributes to the base of knowledge regarding gender-based discrimination in health care and its correlation with issues of health care access. Our findings highlight the need for more expansive research and policy changes in these areas.

Methods

Data are from the 2021 Minnesota Health Access (MNHA) survey, which is a biennial population-based survey on health insurance coverage and access conducted in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Health. We limited the analysis to adults responding for themselves about experiences of discrimination and access (n=10,003); we excluded proxy reports (e.g., a household member answering for a spouse or roommate). Tests for statistical significance were conducted at the 95% confidence level.

Check out our companion blog "Examining Discrimination and Health Care Access by Sexual Orientation in Minnesota". 

References

Gonzales, G., & Henning-Smith, C. (2017). Barriers to Care Among Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adults. The Milbank quarterly, 95(4), 726–748. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.12297

Kachen, A., & Pharr, J. R. (2020). Health Care Access and Utilization by Transgender Populations: A United States Transgender Survey Study. Transgender health, 5(3), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2020.0017

Kattari, S. K., & Hasche, L. (2016). Differences Across Age Groups in Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People's Experiences of Health Care Discrimination, Harassment, and Victimization. Journal of aging and health, 28(2), 285–306. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264315590228  

Lett E., Asabor E., Beltrán S., Cannon A.M., Arah O.A. (2022). Conceptualizing, Contextualizing, and Operationalizing Race in Quantitative Health Sciences Research. Ann Fam Med 20(2):157-163. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2792

Movement Advancement Project. "Equality Maps: Housing Nondiscrimination Laws." https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/non_discrimination_laws/housing. Accessed 11/07/2022.

Reisner, S. L., Bailey, Z., & Sevelius, J. (2014). Racial/ethnic disparities in history of incarceration, experiences of victimization, and associated health indicators among transgender women in the US. Women & health, 54(8), 750-767.

Shires, D. A., & Jaffee, K. (2015). Factors associated with health care discrimination experiences among a national sample of female-to-male transgender individuals. Health & social work, 40(2), 134–141. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlv025

Walsh, P. (2018, October 3). Minnesota Now Offers 'X' for Gender Option on Driver's Licenses. Star Tribune. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-now-offers-x-for-gender-option-on-driver-s-licenses/494909961/.