This seems too good to be true-Healthcare Coverage

[traci_k]

New Rules Bar Transgender Discrimination In Health Care

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/transgender-discrimination-health-care_55e85120e4b0aec9f3562adf?utm_hp_ref=transgender

Huffington Post
Jeffery Young
Posted: 09/03/2015 11:19 AM EDT | Edited: 09/03/2015 03:04 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is making a major push for transgender rights by prohibiting health insurance companies and medical providers from discriminating against patients because of their gender identities.

Under a proposed regulation issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Thursday, transgender people would be entitled to equal treatment in health care and would gain the legal right to make civil rights claims against insurers, doctors, hospitals and others who deny them coverage or necessary care because they are transgender. That includes forbidding health insurers from categorically excluding treatments related to gender transitions.

....
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated most employer-sponsored health insurance plans won't be subject to the proposed anti-discrimination rules. The regulation would cover all insurance companies that do business with government programs like Medicare, Medicaid and the health insurance exchanges, and therefore would apply to plans offered to employers for their workers.

*********************************************
If I am reading this correctly most employers have an insurance company that deals with the Federal Government i.e. Blue Cross, therefore if you are an employer with that uses blue Cross, the employer must now cover transition services.

Goddess, I'm feeling giddy.

Please keep you eyes out for further clarification but this could be a goddesssend to many, many trans-people, and me.

Re-reading - it says the insurance company must offer the coverage - I wonder if the employer can reject to accept the coverage?Hmmm. You know the old adage, If it seems too good to be true....

[traci_k]

From the Advocate.com

BY  Cleis Abeni
September 03 2015 6:12 PM ET

New HHS Rule Could Change the Game for Trans Healthcare


Today, after pressure from LGBT advocacy groups, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a new policy that will enable transgender Americans to file claims of civil rights violations against physicians, insurers, and hospitals that fail to provide trans-affirmative healthcare care.

The policy clarifies the scope of the Affordable Care Act's nondiscrimination clause, Section 1557. The proposed policy forbids insurers from denying transgender patients transition-related health care like hormone therapy, counseling, and surgical procedures that that have previously been considered aesthetic.

**************************
And these are only proposed regulations for the comment period. It might behoove those who are interested to follow up and submit comments to the government about how life-saving affirming care is and maybe we can get this enacted with an even stronger employer mandate.

From AP Coverage

"Jocelyn Samuels, head of the HHS Office for Civil Rights, said the rule does not explicitly require insurers to cover gender transition treatment, including surgery. But insurers could face questions if they deny medically necessary services related to gender transition by a man who identifies as a woman, or a woman who identifies as a man."



Most doctors would be covered. Insurers that offer plans through HealthCare.gov would have to comply with the requirements in their plans off the health insurance exchange as well.