Courts Uphold Non-Discrimination in Insurance Coverage for Gender-Affirming Care

In recent cases, some plaintiffs, including minors, have sought insurance coverage for gender-affirming care. These cases focused on whether insurers could deny coverage for certain procedures based on gender dysphoria. The courts ruled that insurers cannot discriminate in this way, setting a precedent for future cases.

In North Carolina, some plan members joined the case on behalf of their transgender minor child, seeking coverage for their care. Advocates hope that the courts’ decisions in cases like these will send a message to lawmakers that bans on gender-affirming care for youth are not supported by the courts and are not a winning issue in the public eye.

Simmons-Duffin also mentioned the ongoing debate around bans on gender-affirming care for youth in different states. In Kansas, the Statehouse failed to override the governor’s veto on such a ban. While court rulings have been mixed, these cases are seen as a step in the right direction for LGBTQ rights.