Transgender Woman Sues Cigna Over Denial of Facial Surgery

A transgender woman sued health insurance giant Cigna over allegations the company discriminated against her when it denied coverage for facial feminization surgery.

The complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania claims Cigna rejected an unnamed plaintiff’s request for the surgery because the procedure was not “medically necessary,” even though her surgeon recommended the surgery as necessary and appropriate.

According to the lawsuit, the insurer’s decision amounted to sex and disability discrimination in violation of the Affordable Care Act, and it also violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

“Defendants presented Plaintiff with ...