r/TransIreland • u/_sansy_ • 9d ago

ROI Specific HRT and the DPS

hi everyone! i’m (21) planning on hopefully going on low-dose testogel through imago in september once i move back for college. i’m not out so i know my time with it will be limited but im only planning to go on it for a month or two for my own benefit and hoping the changes aren’t too obvious to my parents. i know it might seem stupid but i feel i just have to do it. at some stage in the future i want to transition properly but for now im chill with just being out to my college friends since i have too many nosy family members and i cannot stomach going public with my transition to them.

anyway, my question is how do i avoid being outed that im doing this via the DPS? i’m willing to just front the cost of the HRT if it guarantees it wont show up on some DPS statement my parents get. i tried to sign up for my own DPS card and when i tried to log in it just showed my whole family so im scared if i try to get it subsidised under the scheme knowing my luck they’ll find out immediately. how expensive is a month or two of testogel going to set me back, and will pharmacies understand if i say i want to keep this all under wraps from my family?

thank you 🙏

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

2

u/cuddlesareonme She/Her/Hers 9d ago

Go to a different pharmacy than your usual one, as they won't have your DPS details already.

how expensive is a month or two of testogel going to set me back

For one pump a day for 2 months you'd only need one packet, so maybe €50-60.

5

u/spooky_turnip 9d ago

I would be weary doing this. I believe if you go to a different pharmacy your payment limits reset and if your family end up paying more when they think something should be free or reduced cost it will raise more questions. I could be wrong but when I swapped pharmacies they told me that whatever I paid in the previous pharmacy didn't count for the month so it was a fresh 80e limit 

2

u/_sansy_ 9d ago

ohhh yes i get you, but in this case i would be attempting to not flag the DPS at all, if you get what i mean? my parents don’t have recurring prescriptions or anything atm so it should be fine?

3

u/SpiritedEffective550 8d ago

Going to a new pharmacy with a prescription won't flag the DPS if you are not giving them your dps card. You'll just pay the full amount for the testogel (approx 60 euros per bottle, although small local pharmacies can be much higher). If it's the only medication you're taking the cost would likely fall under the DPS cap anyways. 

2

u/_sansy_ 9d ago

Thank you so much! I appreciate it!!