Federal Appeals Court Takes Up Transgender Health Coverage Case From North Carolina

Source: ABC News

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, heard oral arguments earlier this month in two cases involving the coverage of gender-affirming care by state health plans, one in North Carolina and one in West Virginia.

The case could have significant implications on whether states are required to cover health care for transgender people on government-sponsored insurance. And it will likely be headed eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court, according to at least two judges on the Fourth Circuit.

The North Carolina state insurance plan provides medical coverage for more than 750,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, lawmakers, and their dependents. It does not cover transition-related care, so in 2019 a lawsuit was filed on behalf of several current and former state employees and their dependents. It alleged that the denial of coverage for gender-affirming care under the plan was discriminatory.

In 2022, a judge agreed and demanded the state plan pay for “medically necessary services,” including hormone therapy and some surgeries. That ruling is now being challenged in the Fourth Circuit Court.

Tara Borelli, a Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal who is representing the transgender people denied services in both states, decried the latest proceedings. “It is disappointing that state officials in North Carolina and West Virginia have chosen to double-down on the discriminatory denial of medically necessary, evidence-based care,” she said.

Read more from ABC News

Share:

More Posts

North Carolina’s Climate Crisis: A Tale of Drought, Wildfires, and the Urgent Need for Action

The parched lands of North Carolina are bearing stark witness to the intensifying climate crisis. For months, the skies have remained stubbornly dry, casting a pall of drought over the state. Asheville has not seen a significant downpour since late August, leaving its rain gauge yearning for a replenishing shower. The situation is echoed across the state, with Hickory, Southern Pines, and Reidsville all reeling from rainfall deficits.

The Arc of Greensboro: Building Connection in Community for Those With Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

Since 1953, the Arc of Greensboro has been connecting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities with their greater community. This member-based nonprofit works hard to showcase and educate the public on why those who have disabilities deserve to be treated with respect. In addition, this organization works tirelessly to show that those with disabilities have something extraordinary to offer the world around them.

Women’s high school wrestling is growing in a special way in one NC county

One of the fastest growing women’s sports in the country has finally been classified as a sport in North Carolina. Womens high school wrestling is now in 41 states with nearly 50,000 student-athletes participating, that is a 880% rise in participation since 2005. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association sanctioned the sport in April 2022.