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- Forty-six states passed or introduced anti-trans legislation this year, forcing families to flee their state for safety reasons.
- To help families during this time, journalist Erin Reed has created an Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Map.
- Here’s the average cost of living and monthly rent in the 13 safest states for trans people.
This year alone, 46 US states have passed or introduced anti-trans legislation that threatens transgender people’s access to health care, toilets, and more.
In response, trans adults and parents who support trans children have made the difficult decision to move to different states where their rights are still protected.
Freelance journalist Erin Reed, who has been following and reporting on anti-trans legislation for three years, told Insider, “I get a lot of questions from people asking me, ‘Am I safe here? Is it time to run away? I live in this state, and things seem really scary. Where can I go?'”
Instead of answering these questions individually, Reed created the Anti-Trans Legislative Risk Map, which is updated monthly. States are ranked in five categories ranging from “worst active anti-trans laws” in dark red to “safest states with protections” in blue.
Trans people use the map to make informed decisions about moving to a new state. She says, “If you’re in Georgia right now, you’re nowhere near a truly safe state. So does it make more sense to move to North Carolina, which is moderate risk? Or do you have the resources to cross the country?”
“The sad reality is that the majority of trans people in these states will not be able to flee,” adds Reed, noting that the ability to flee to a safer state depends on one’s income and level of resources.
To help trans people and their families make informed decisions about where to move, Insider has gathered details on the cost of living and gender-affirming care for the 13 most protected states in the Legislative Risk Map. anti-trans from Reed and Washington, DC.
1. California
Annual cost of living: $53,082
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of California: $1,635
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in the Los Angeles metropolitan area: $1,739
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in the San Francisco metropolitan area: $1,884
Medi-Cal, California’s state health insurance plan, covers gender-affirming care. According to the California Department of Health Care Services, single adults who earn $20,121 or less per year are eligible for Medi-Cal health care coverage.
Californians are also eligible for Medi-Cal health care coverage if they are enrolled in CalFresh, SSI or SSP, CalWorks, Refugee Assistance, Foster Care, or Adoption Assistance Program benefits.
2. Colorado
Annual cost of living: $53,374
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of Colorado: $1,366
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in the Denver metro area: $1,466
Health First Colorado covers gender-affirming care. Single adults ages 19 to 65 earning up to $1,616 are eligible for the state health plan. Full eligibility requirements can be found at Connect for Health Colorado.
3.Connecticut
Annual cost of living: $55,803
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,291
HUSKY Health, Connecticut’s state health plan, covers gender-affirming care. HUSKY D is the state health plan for adults without minor children, earning up to $1,677 per month.
4. Hawaii
Annual cost of living: $49,155
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,790
According to the Movement Advancement Project, conflicting policies make it unclear whether or not Hawaiians have access to gender-affirming care through their public health insurance plan.
5.Illinois
Annual cost of living: $49,558
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of Illinois: $1,105
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in the Chicago metropolitan area: $1,216
Illinois Medicaid covers gender-affirming care. According to benefits.gov, single adults who earn up to $20,121 before taxes are eligible for Illinois Medicaid.
Take a questionnaire on the Benefit Eligibility Application website for full eligibility details.
6.Maryland
Annual cost of living: $48,650
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of Maryland: $1,410
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in the Baltimore metropolitan area: $1,315
Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program covers gender-affirming care. Single adults who earn up to $1,564 a month are eligible for state health insurance, according to Maryland.gov.
7.Massachusetts
Annual cost of living: $58,532
Average monthly rent of a T2
-
in the state of Massachusetts: $1,411
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in the Boston metro area: $1,621
MassHealth covers gender-affirming care. According to the Benefits.gov, single adults who earn up to $19,392 before taxes may qualify for the state health plan.
All eligibility requirements for MassHealth can be found on Mass.gov.
8.Minnesota
Annual cost of living: $48,615
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $959
MinnesotaCare covers gender-affirming care. According to the Minnesota Department of Social Services, single adults earning up to $27,180 may qualify for the state’s health plan.
9. New Mexico
Annual cost of living: $40,028
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $999
The New Mexico state health plan does not cover gender-affirming care.
10. New York
Annual cost of living: $53,255
Average monthly rent of a T2
-
in New York State: $1,664
-
in the New York metropolitan area: $1,875
New York Medicaid covers gender-affirming care. According to benefits.gov, single adults who earn up to $19,392 before taxes may be eligible for New York Medicaid.
Enter your zip code and create an account on the New York State Insurance Marketplace to see if you are eligible for the New York State Health Plan.
11. Oregon
Annual cost of living: $47,779
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of Oregon: $1,151
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in the Portland metropolitan area: $1,352
Oregon’s health plan covers gender-affirming care. Single adults who earn $1,616 or less are eligible for state health coverage. Visit the Oregon Health Authority website for full eligibility details.
12.Vermont
Annual cost of living: $50,761
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,438
Vermont Medicaid covers gender-affirming care. According to benefits.gov, single adults who earn up to $19,392 before taxes may be eligible for state health plan coverage.
Full eligibility details can be found on Vermont Health Connect.
13.Washington
Annual cost of living: $51,751
Average monthly rent of a T2
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in the state of Washington: $1,301
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in the Seattle metropolitan area: $1,505
Washington Apple Health, the state health insurance, covers gender-affirming care. Single adults who earn $1,677 per month or less are eligible for health coverage. Full eligibility requirements are available on the Washington State Health Care Authority website.
14.Washington, D.C.
Annual cost of living: $78,809
Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,758
DC Health does not cover gender-affirming surgery as of 2016.
How Insider Compiled the Data Above
Annual cost of living
The annual cost of living for each state comes from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ 2021 Personal Consumption Expenditures by State report.
Average monthly rent of a T2
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in each state comes from data compiled by Apartment List. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment for the state of Vermont was not found in the Apartment List dataset, but is listed on a separate page.
States like Illinois, California, and New York have larger cities where the average monthly rent is higher than the rest of the state. For these states, we have differentiated the average monthly rent for the states and major cities within them.
Availability of gender-affirming healthcare
The availability of gender-affirming care coverage under each state’s health insurance plan comes from the Movement Advancement Project’s April 2023 report on health care laws and policies, except Washington. , DC.
Where readily available, Insider has included the income limit for a household size of one to qualify for the state health plan and application information.
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