Top Surgery in Hawaiʻi

Accessing gender-affirming top surgery in Hawaiʻi is protected and supported by both state law and medical policy. Hawaiʻi’s nondiscrimination statutes require that health insurers cover medically necessary gender-affirming procedures when comparable surgeries are covered for other conditions. This means that gender-affirming top surgery cannot be excluded solely because it is related to gender identity.

Medicaid (Med-QUEST) and most private insurers in the state follow these rules, reviewing requests under medical-necessity criteria that align with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care.

If you have health insurance in Hawaiʻi, the best first step is to call your plan and ask for their gender-affirming surgery policy. Each carrier (HMSA, Kaiser, UHA, HMAA, Med-QUEST) has its own guidelines. Ask what documentation is required for prior authorization. Typically this includes a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, evidence of capacity for informed consent, and one or two supporting letters from qualified health professionals. Your primary care provider or a gender-affirming therapist can help prepare these.

For those using Med-QUEST (Hawaiʻi Medicaid), coverage is available for top surgery when it is deemed medically necessary. You’ll need to work with a provider who accepts your plan and can submit the prior authorization paperwork. If your insurance denies coverage, you have the right to appeal, and Hawaiʻi’s 2022 Gender-Affirming Treatment Act strengthens protections against wrongful denials.

Once you’ve confirmed coverage and documentation requirements, you can begin consultations with surgeons. Contact one or more of the Hawaiʻi-based surgeons below to discuss techniques, recovery, and insurance acceptance. They are experienced in helping patients navigate this process from consultation to post-operative care.

For more Hawaiʻi Gender-Affirming Care Resources:
See Planned Parenthood’s Hawaiʻi Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide, a comprehensive document with Hawaiʻi-specific information to help transgender and nonbinary individuals connect with medical, behavioral, financial, community, family, legal, educational, and other supportive resources.
View the Hawaiʻi Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide (PDF)

Surgeons in Hawaiʻi