We know that many folks are curious about how FOLX compares to Plume since, on the surface, it seems as though we provide the same service. There are some ways in which we are similar, but there are many ways in which we are different. We want you to make the best decision for your health care, so we have shared as much information as we can below.
Please keep in mind that many factors determine pricing, such as whether or not you have in-network insurance, what medication you are on, how many visits you have per year, and what care you need throughout the year. We are going to provide a few examples based on estimates of how much you might expect to pay in different scenarios so you can get a general sense of the difference.
First, let’s touch on the service differences you get with FOLX vs Plume. FOLX provides care for the larger LGBTQIA+ community across all 50 states, while Plume focuses on the transgender and nonbinary community exclusively and is not available in every state. Plume’s clinical care is focused on gender-affirming hormone therapy, while FOLX can treat anything a primary care provider would treat, plus therapy in select states.
Here are the basics about what is included in which membership and what care you will expect to pay for in addition to the membership fee.
Now that we’ve established the service differences, let’s examine pricing. Based on different scenarios for care, we’ll consider how much you would expect to pay over a year for either service.
Scenario #1
Here’s the estimate of what you would pay over one year with the following assumptions:
- You are paying the monthly membership fee
- You do not have insurance
- You have 3 visits over the course of the year (one for GAHT, an annual wellness visit, and an illness visit)
- You get GAHT labs done twice over the course of the year
- Your GAHT medication route is estradiol in pill form
Scenario #2
Here’s the estimate of what you would pay over one year with the following assumptions:
- You are paying the yearly membership fee for FOLX (monthly for Plume)
- You do not have insurance
- You have 3 visits over the course of the year (one for GAHT, an annual wellness visit, and an illness visit)
- You get GAHT labs done twice over the course of the year
- Your GAHT medication route is testosterone shots
*Medication costs are estimates based on the average price of each medication from the FOLX partner pharmacy.
**We are estimating a $200 cost for in-person visits without insurance. This will vary depending on the type of care.
Both of the scenarios above are what you might expect to pay if you do not have in-network insurance. Because insurance coverage varies so much, we cannot estimate how much visits, medications, and labs will cost you with in-network insurance, and we can’t do a full cost estimate for you. These costs will vary depending on your insurance coverage and whether or not you’ve hit your deductible, if you have one.
With in-network insurance for both FOLX and Plume, you pay a membership fee, and then you pay for visits, labs, and medications (using your insurance) as you need them. Your costs between the two providers are likely to be fairly similar with insurance, so looking at the service chart above can help you make your decision.
With in-network insurance with Plume, you pay $32/month for access to gender-affirming hormone therapy and a 6-week support group, plus the cost of visits, labs, and your medications. With in-network insurance with FOLX, you pay $39.99/month (or $299 for the year, which averages to $25/month) for access to comprehensive healthcare, including gender-affirming hormone therapy and mental health care, as well as a community platform with unlimited support groups, forums, events and more. You pay for visits, labs, and meds when you need them, through your insurance.
In summary, both FOLX and Plume provide virtual care options to some or all of the LGBTQIA+ community. Membership with FOLX provides everything that Plume provides, plus more. In looking at the price comparison over the course of a year for various scenarios, it is clear that, in most cases, FOLX membership will save you money. Of course, pricing will vary based on which medication(s) you are on, how many visits you need in a year, how many times you get labs done, and whether or not you have insurance. With the scenarios presented, you can see the differences between the two providers in order to make the best decision for you.
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FOLX Health is the first digital healthcare company designed by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our services include virtual primary care, gender-affirming hormone therapy including estrogen and testosterone (HRT), mental health care, sexual and reproductive health care, preventive care, and fertility consultations. FOLX memberships give you access to LGBTQIA+ expert clinicians, peer support, thousands of LGBTQIA+ resources, and more. Whether you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, gender non-conforming, or nonbinary, you can find LGBTQIA+-specialized health care that helps you meet your wellness goals. FOLX Health is health care that's queer all year. Get all the benefits of becoming a FOLX member and sign up today!
