President Donald Trump announced that Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program will no longer cover gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for minors, according to reports from NOS Nieuws and the Reformatorisch Dagblad published in August 2026. The federal healthcare program for low-income Americans will phase out coverage for patients currently undergoing these procedures starting in April 2027.
Medicaid Coverage Cuts and Timeline for Minors
The policy change eliminates funding for transgender healthcare services for minors across both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage for uninsured children. According to NOS Nieuws, patients currently receiving treatments will see their coverage gradually phased out beginning in April 2027. Mental health counseling for transgender minors remains covered under the programs. President Trump defended the decision on Truth Social, describing the procedures as “barbaarse operaties en behandelingen” that cause irreversible damage to young bodies, as reported by NOS Nieuws. The Reformatorisch Dagblad noted that Medicaid specifically serves Americans with low income and limited assets.
Broader Federal Restrictions on Transgender Rights
This decision marks the latest restriction on transgender rights enacted during the second term of the Trump administration. Previous measures include cutting federal funding through programs like Medicaid to institutions that provide puberty blockers, banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports leagues nationwide, and mandating the discharge of transgender military personnel, according to NOS Nieuws. Additionally, U.S. passports must now display the sex and birth name assigned at birth. These cumulative policy shifts have prompted organizations such as the Transgender Netwerk to advise transgender individuals in the Netherlands against traveling to the United States unless absolutely necessary, as detailed by NOS Nieuws.
State-Level Bans and Advocacy Group Reactions
The federal funding shift aligns with existing restrictions across a large portion of the country. At least 27 of the 50 U.S. states already ban gender-affirming care for individuals under 18, and remaining states have seen significant scale-backs under the Trump administration, according to NOS Nieuws. While gender-affirming surgeries for minors remain rare, hormone treatments and puberty blockers are more common. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have strongly condemned the announcement. Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, stated that the Trump administration is terrorizing transgender youth and their families, adding that these actions must end, according to NOS Nieuws.
Did you know? Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Medicaid stop covering gender-affirming treatments for minors?
Coverage for patients already undergoing treatments will be gradually phased out starting in April 2027, according to NOS Nieuws.
Which federal programs are affected by the new policy?
The policy applies to Medicaid, which serves low-income individuals, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according to reporting by NOS Nieuws and the Reformatorisch Dagblad.
Are mental health services for transgender minors still covered?
Yes, the costs for mental health care for transgender minors continue to be covered by the programs, as reported by NOS Nieuws.
How many states already ban gender-affirming care for minors?
At least 27 of the 50 U.S. states had already prohibited gender-affirming care for individuals under 18 prior to this federal announcement, according to NOS Nieuws.
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