Mom sues after Minnesota teen denied coverage for gender-reassignment surgery, drugs

[kristincardigan]

Mom sues after Minnesota teen denied coverage for gender reassignment

http://m.startribune.com/mom-sues-after-minnesota-teen-denied-coverage-for-sex-change-surgery-drugs/366731821/

Star Tribune/Brittany Tovar — Submitted by Brittany Tovar By Paul Walsh , Star Tribune 
January 28, 2016 - 6:59 AM

Just read this and I applaud this mother for having the courage to stand up for her son and transgender people in Minnesota.

"A northwestern Minnesota woman is suing her employer, Essentia Health, and her medical insurance provider, HealthPartners, alleging that her 17-year-old was denied coverage for medication and surgery to help him transition from a female to a male."




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[Miyuki]

Thank you for posting this! I both live in Minnesota and have HealthPartners insurance, so this case is very relevant to my current situation.

[kristincardigan]

Thank you for posting this! I both live in Minnesota and have HealthPartners insurance, so this case is very relevant to my current situation.

I live in MN too and my previous carrier Anthem had similar a discriminatory byline. Luckily my new carrier doesn't so I am pretty happy. I hope they win because it should be illegal.


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[JLT1]

I live in MN as well.  I also have Health Partners.  I fought and won.  However, this year they changed some things to make it tougher. They called me and told me of the changes. She can still win.

Jen

[Tysilio]

The MN Depts. of Commerce and Health issued a bulletin in November which requires private insurers to cover transgender health care, including surgery, if they want to do business in Minnesota. Given that ruling, this case should be resolved fairly quickly at the local level. Its larger significance is that it's being brought in federal court, with the blessing of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, so it should have far wider implications.

[kristincardigan]

I live in MN as well.  I also have Health Partners.  I fought and won.  However, this year they changed some things to make it tougher. They called me and told me of the changes. She can still win.

Jen

Congrats on your win! When I had Anthem I also had to fight just to cover seeing a psychologist regarding my gender dysphoria. They eventually relented and started paying.

On a side note I posted this on my Facebook profile and the response saddened me. They varied from opinions that this type of treatment is purely cosmetic to saying that trans people shouldn't need surgery to reaffirm their gender. I spent two days debating why this is institutionalized discrimination that reinforces the belief that being trans is purely a choice. How reaffirming surgery can save live amongst a marginalized group that faces suicide, violence, and intimidation for not being gender conforming. I also noted that insurance companies should not be a gate keeper for treatment and they really don't need you to stick up for them anyway. I convinced some people but it was unexpected and left me drained and depressed.

Some people were supportive, but mostly they were not advocating when exclusionary opinions needed correcting. I guess I'm sad and just need to vent.


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