Quickly, someone call Team Diversity!
Via Denver Post
A Colorado transgender woman’s insurance company has denied her coverage for gender reassignment surgery she says is medically necessary and should be ensured by state law and policy.
Ashlyn Trider, 33, said Aetna Life Insurance Company’s refusal to pay for gender reassignment surgery prescribed by her doctor violates Colorado law. The Transgender Legal Defense Fund & Education Fund has demanded Aetna reverse its decision.
“This is a medical condition. I was born with it,” Trider said. “It’s medically necessary surgery. My doctor has strongly urged this procedure get done. It’s pretty straightforward.”
The denial of coverage violates Colorado law, said TLDEF attorney Ethan Rice. State law and Division of Insurance 2013 guidelines require companies to cover medically necessary care for transgender policyholders on the same terms as all other policyholders.
“It’s pretty clear guidance,” Rice said. “The crux here is that a lot of insurance companies are still excluding coverage. Governments are taking action to end discrimination, but the transgender community still struggles to get the care (it) needs.”
Colorado is one of 10 states, along with the District of Columbia, barring health insurance discrimination against transgender people, Rice said.
A Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies’s bulletin B-B.49 states health insurers cannot deny coverage of treatments for transgender policyholders if the same treatments are covered for other policyholders.
Aetna officials say they can’t discuss any health information about members without signed waivers, but the denial letter sent to Trider says her “plan has a specific exclusion for the requested service or treatment.”