California Attorney General Leads Coalition in Support of Healthcare Rights
for Transgender Americans

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   coverage. Specifically, the plaintiffs seek coverage for gender
   dysphoria or other gender-affirming treatment, arguing that Section
   1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) protects transgender individuals
   from discrimination in healthcare and requires the State to provide
   them with coverage.

   “All people should have access to healthcare, period. This includes
   transgender individuals who have a right to live their lives with
   dignity, free from discrimination,” said Attorney General
   Becerra. “Here in California, we have laws that protect transgender
   Americans from discrimination in accessing state services and benefits,
   including healthcare. We’ve seen the positive outcome that ensuring
   equality brings to our communities. We will continue to fight for
   equality for all transgender Americans.”

   The ACA provides millions of Americans with access to quality,
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   disability.

   In today’s brief, the coalition argues that by denying transgender
   individuals coverage for gender-affirming treatment and gender
   dysphoria, the North Carolina State Health Plan violated Section 1557’s
   anti-discrimination mandate. Systematic and widespread discrimination
   against transgender people in healthcare is what Section 1557 aims to
   prevent and combat. Instead, the Health Plan’s discriminatory tactics
   put the lives of transgender people at risk by denying them treatment
   known to improve their physical and mental
   health. The brief also argues that Section 1557 should be applied
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   discrimination as Congress intended. The ACA’s reforms, along
   with state laws like California’s, which prohibit health insurers from
   excluding coverage for transgender health services, have significantly
   increased access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals and their
   families. Allowing the North Carolina State Health Plan to selectively
   deny coverage to certain disadvantaged groups, like transgender people,
   causes uncertainty and confusion for people who are already reluctant
   to seek medical care. Applying Section 1557 uniformly will give all
   transgender Americans confidence that they will receive quality
   healthcare no matter where they are.

   Attorney General Becerra is committed to protecting and upholding
   Section 1557 of the ACA and defending the rights of transgender
   individuals. Last month, the Attorney General joined a coalition of 23
   attorneys general in a comment letter condemning a proposed rule by the
   Trump Administration that would allow discrimination against
   transgender Americans seeking shelter. In June, the Attorney
   General restricted state-funded travel to Idaho as a result of two
   discriminatory bills signed into law in the state that authorize
   discrimination against the transgender community. In December, Attorney
   General Becerra, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, and
   Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro led a coalition of 19