Families want Premera class action over transgender teen care certified

Premera transgender care class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: A group of parents representing their minor children want class certification for their claims against Premera Blue Cross. 
• Why: The parents claim Premera discriminates against transgender minors by excluding them coverage for gender-affirming chest surgeries. 
• Where: The Premera transgender care class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court. 

A new class action lawsuit charges that health insurance company Premera Blue Cross discriminates against transgender minors by denying them coverage for gender-affirming chest surgeries. 

A group of parents representing their minor children recently filed a motion to certify a class action arguing Premera imposes a “categorical exclusion of coverage” for gender-affirming chest surgery for transgender minors. 

The parents claim Premera is violating its own so-called Gender Transition/Affirmation Surgery and Related Services (GTAS) policy by allegedly denying coverage for trans minors. 

“Premera provides coverage for the same or similar chest surgery for minors diagnosed with other health conditions,” the motion for class certification says. 

Premera discriminates on basis of age, sex, class action alleges

The parents claim their children met all the requirements under Premera’s GTAS policy to be able to get coverage for gender-affirming chest surgery, except for the fact that they are under the age of 18. 

“Indeed, like all members of the proposed Class, the mere fact that they are (a) transgender and (b) under 18 is the reason that Premera denied coverage,” the motion says. 

Premera, the parents argue, not only discriminates on the basis of sex but also by age, by way of excluding transgender minors from its GTAS policy. 

The parents want to represent a class of individuals who have been, are or will be participants or beneficiaries in Premera health plans and/or health benefit plans who required, require or will require treatment with gender-affirming chest surgery to treat their diagnosis of gender dysphoria, and who were or will be denied pre-authorization or coverage because they were or are under the age of 18. 

Earlier this year, a judge in Florida denied a request to enforce a rule that is blocking a Florida law banning Medicaid payments for puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones. 

Have you been discriminated against by Premera? Let us know in the comments.

The Premera transgender care class action lawsuit is L.B., et al. v. Premera Blue Cross, Case No. 2:23-cv-00953, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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