Why do LGBT people need this tool?
LGBT people often face financial, personal and cultural barriers when attempting to access heatlh care.
- Fear of discrimination. LGBT people often withhold information about sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual practices which can lead to misdiagnosis and improper care and treatment.
- Forms and questionairres are written with heterosexuals in mind.
- Providers are often not well trained in LGBT issues or heatlh care concerns.
These problems are compounded because:
- LGBT people are at increased risk for certain forms of cancers (including lung, cervical, breast, and anal cancer) due to an increased rate of smoking, and inadequate risk assessment and medical screenings.
- LGBT people have increased risk of stress-related mental health problems and substance abuse due to their status as an underserved minority group.
- LGBT couples are at a disadvantage in obtaining medical insurance since many insurance companies and employers do not provide domestic partnership benefits.
- Older LGBT people in same-sex relationships are at high risk of economic devastation due to an absence of Medicaid benefits afforded to legalized partners.