Aetna Hit With Class Action Over Gender-Affirming Care Pay (1)

Three transgender women sued Aetna Life Insurance Co. Tuesday for allegedly denying them coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming facial reconstruction surgeries.

Aetna’s categorical exclusion on the treatments constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex in a federally funded health-care program in violation of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, a proposed class action complaint filed in the US District Court for the District of Connecticut said. Aetna generally provides payment for facial reconstruction surgery for diagnoses other than gender dysphoria, and also covers other gender-affirming care, such as chest reconstruction, the plaintiffs said.

Aetna can’t comment on pending litigation, ...