#FOLX HEALTH VS PLUME FULL#

Rock Health’s 2020 Consumer Adoption Report 4 found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, 53% of LGBTQ+ respondents delayed or avoided medical care compared to 41% of non-LGBTQ+-identifying respondents.ĭelaying care and not disclosing health needs can worsen health disparities that already exist within the LGBTQ+ community. Overwhelmed by these experiences and other challenges, LGBTQ+ individuals can feel forced to hide their sexual and/or gender identities (and therefore their true health needs) from providers, or to forgo care altogether. The data is troubling: 20% of trans individuals reported experiencing physical abuse from clinicians during in-person medical appointments, and eight percent of LGBTQ+ people said they’ve experienced harsh or abusive language from a provider.

#FOLX HEALTH VS PLUME FULL#

We can’t cover the full expanse of the LGBTQ+ care gap in this blog post, but we can share how deeply struck we were by the sheer amount of violence that LGBTQ+ people experience in healthcare settings. Gaurang Choksi (he/him), CEO and Founder, Violet LGBTQ+ Health Experiences and The Role of Digital Health “All of us want, and deserve, to bring our full selves into our healthcare journeys we shouldn’t have to to prioritize one of our identities over others.” In this post, we’ll discuss how digital health can be an especially powerful tool for the LGBTQ+ community, review different approaches that digital health startups are taking to support LGBTQ+ individuals, and highlight opportunities for queer-competent care moving forward. 3 2021 is already the largest funding year to date for LGBTQ+-specific companies, driven by startups Folx Health (raising $25M) and Plume ( $14M). At Rock Health, we’re tracking a number of existing digital health companies, such as BetterHelp (owned by Teladoc Health), Progyny, and Grand Rounds Health, that are expanding their product and service offerings to address LGBTQ+ individuals we refer to this category of companies as “ LGBTQ+-minded.” We’re also seeing the emergence of new digital health startups that focus on delivering “ LGBTQ+-specific” care and services. In another report, eight percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents and 29% of transgender respondents said that a clinician refused to see them in the past year because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.ĭigital health alone won’t solve for the care gap that LGBTQ+ individuals face, but it can help to work toward a more inclusive healthcare experience.

In a national survey, 12% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported having to teach their providers about their identities and needs in order to get adequate treatment. Even with increasing national visibility 1, LGBTQ+ 2 Americans continue to face more discrimination in health settings and lower-quality healthcare compared to non-LGBTQ+ Americans.

Our identities affect, inform, and define the ways that we experience all parts of our lives-including our relationships with healthcare.

Folx health vs plume