Trans Women Ask to Join Suit Over West Virginia Health Plan Bias

Two transgender women asked a federal court Thursday to add them to a lawsuit fighting against the West Virginia Medicaid and health plans’ blanket exclusion for gender-confirming care.

The state’s refusal to pay for treatments such as counseling, hormone replacement therapy, and surgery has deprived Medicaid enrollee Shauntae Anderson of the ability to get medically necessary care, a proposed amended complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia says.

In particular, Anderson can’t afford to get surgeries to treat her gender dysphoria, such as vaginoplasty and breast reconstruction surgery, the complaint says.

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