LGBT Adults Face Higher Rates of Discrimination and Unfair Treatment in Health Care

A report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) indicates that LGBT adults in the US face higher rates of discrimination and unfair treatment in daily life and health care settings, leading to increased mental health challenges and barriers to accessing care, with people who are younger, lower income, and women reporting the highest rates of negative experiences.

Many states are enacting policies that restrict access to care, especially for youth seeking gender-affirming care. This report, based on KFF's 2023 Racism, Discrimination, and Health Survey, explores LGBT adults' experiences with discrimination, mental health crises, homelessness, well-being, and accessing mental health care, emphasizing the importance of local support networks.

About two-thirds of LGBT adults report at least one form of discrimination in the past year, compared to 40% of non-LGBT adults. They are more likely to have negative experiences in health care, such as mistreated or ignored by providers. Harmful health care experiences can lead to adverse consequences for LGBT adults, causing their health to deteriorate or making them less likely to seek care. In response to these challenges, 6 in 10 LGBT adults take steps to prepare for or mitigate unfair treatment when seeking medical care compared to 4 in 10 non-LGBT adults. 

LGBT adults who are younger, lower income, and women are more likely to face discrimination and unfair treatment in their daily lives and health care settings. Younger LGBT adults and LGBT women are more likely than older LGBT adults and LGBT men to have experienced discrimination in the past year. Those with household incomes below $40,000 are more likely to report negative experiences with health care providers. LGBT adults report worse mental health outcomes compared to non-LGBT peers, with higher rates of mental health crises and worries about work, finances, and personal safety. Younger and lower-income LGBT adults are also more likely (44% vs 19%) that they or a family member has ever experienced a “severe mental health crisis that resulted in serious consequences like homelessness, hospitalization, incarceration, self-harm, or suicide” according to the report. 

Discrimination experienced by LGBT adults worsens mental health challenges, with those facing discrimination being more likely to report feeling anxious, lonely, and depressed compared to those who rarely or never experience discrimination. Having solid local support network can help mitigate these challenges. LGBT adults who have more friends and family nearby to ask for help or support are less likely to experience severe mental health crises. Additionally, those with larger local support networks are less likely to regularly feel lonely or depressed in the past year compared to those with fewer people in their support network. Having a close support system can significantly benefit the mental well-being of LGBT adults, making it important for them to have a network of people to rely on.

LGBT adults, especially those with fair or poor mental health, are more likely to go without necessary mental health care due to issues of affordability and accessibility. Nearly half of LGBT adults acknowledge not receiving mental health services when needed in the past 3 years, and this number increases to two-thirds among those who rate their mental health as fair or poor. LGBT adults are more than twice as likely as their non-LGBT counterparts to report not receiving necessary mental health services in the past year. Additionally, LGBT adults are twice as likely as non-LGBT adults to report experiencing homelessness, with higher rates among Black and lower-income LGBT adults. Specifically, 1 in 5 LGBT adults has experienced homelessness, a number that doubles for lower-income LGBT individuals and reaches one-third for Black LGBT adults.

“This survey’s findings underscore and enhance our understanding of the ongoing challenges LGBT adults in the U.S. face, including with respect to experiences with stigma and discrimination and poorer mental health outcomes compared to non-LGBT peers,” said researchers. “Federal policy making may play an especially important role in addressing discrimination and access to care, given the patchwork of access and protection at the state level.” 

Reference
Montero A, Hamel L, Artiga S, et al. LGBT adults’ experiences with discrimination and health care disparities: Findings from the KFF Survey of Racism, Discrimination, and Health. KFF. April 2, 2024. Accessed April 4, 2024. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/poll-finding/lgbt-adults-experiences-with-discrimination-and-health-care-disparities-findings-from-the-kff-survey-of-racism-discrimination-and-health/