Plume secures US$24m to advance healthcare for the transgender community

A US virtual care provider designed for the healthcare needs of the transgender community has announced its Series B funding round of US$24m.

Plume aims to use the resources to expand coverage nationwide and provide better support to trans and gender diverse people and their families deserve.

“As a trans woman and physician, I started Plume to offer a supportive space for trans Americans as they navigate our nation’s broken health care system,” said Dr Jerrica Kirkley, Plume’s co-founder and chief medical officer.

“With this announcement, we are on track to reach our goal of increasing access to high-quality, gender-affirming care to patients across the US in both urban areas and coverage deserts.

“Knowing the hurdles trans Americans face when accessing care, I’m encouraged to reach this benchmark and I look forward to Plume’s growth in the future. I want to thank Transformation Capital, General Catalyst, and Town Hall Ventures for their partnership in transforming health care for every trans life.”

The visibility of the trans community is growing at an exponential rate as younger generations more readily openly identify as trans and gender diverse.

Gen Z – the generation born between 1997 and 2012 – identify as trans at nearly four times the rate of baby boomers and is statistically the queerest generation in history.

Trans individuals have unique medical, legal, and socio-emotional needs distinct from those of the broader cisgender LGBQ+ population that are commonly unmet by the status quo.

Dr Matthew Wetschler, Plume’s co-founder and chief executive officer said: “Since launching in 2019, Plume has strived to bring the trans community the deeply personalised healthcare they deserve.

“Amidst growing anti-trans rhetoric nationwide, Plume’s model offers unmatched access to healthcare for trans Americans. This announcement only reinforces our goal of expanding that coverage and eliminating barriers to quality care.”

In the US, more than 30 per cent of trans people avoid healthcare for fear of discrimination and more than 60 per cent of those in urban areas have had to access medications outside of the clinical system.

Plume members pay US$99 a month and receive 24/7 access to gender-affirming care, personal consultations, lab testing, support groups, medical letters of support for surgery and name and gender marker changes, and home delivery of prescriptions and gender-affirming medication as medically appropriate.

The company aims to eliminate these barriers by making gender-affirming care accessible for anyone who needs it without having to go to a doctor’s office.

Current research suggests that transgender women are likely to suffer significant health disparities and may require medical intervention as part of their care.

Despite increased transgender awareness, real or perceived stigma and discrimination within biomedicine and the healthcare provision may impact many transgender people’s desire and ability to access appropriate care.