Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Blue Cross Regarding Gender-Affirming Care

A lawsuit accusing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois of violating an anti-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act by refusing to cover a transgender teenager’s gender-affirming care through an employer plan it administers can go forward as a class action, a federal judge has ruled.

U.S. District Judge Robert Bryan in Tacoma, Washington found Wednesday that Patricia and Nolle Pritchard and their son, identified as C.P., could represent a class of transgender beneficiaries of health plans administered by the insurer.

The judge rejected Blue Cross’ argument that differences between different plans and patients’ circumstances prevented them from being part of a single lawsuit, saying Blue Cross’ conduct was common to all potential class members. The order means that, if the Pritchards win a court order against Blue Cross, it would apply to the entire class.

Read the source article at reuters.com