April 05, 2016
On March 23, 2016, the Delaware Department of Insurance issued Bulletin No. 86. The bulletin provides guidance regarding the Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act of 2013, which prohibits insurers from discriminating against an individual because of gender identity. The department interprets the act along with the Unfair Trade Practices Act and the ACA to prohibit a carrier from excluding, denying or otherwise limiting coverage for medically necessary services, as determined by a medical provider, based on the individual’s gender identity if the service would be covered for another participant. Further, a carrier may not impose a general exclusion for gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder.
Carriers must provide coverage, including under a group health policy,for medically necessary surgeries or treatments related to gender transition. Importantly, the 2016 state benchmark plan includes an exclusion for “change of sex surgery,” which the department warns is a violation of the law. The bulletin and its guidance are effective immediately.
Bulletin No. 86 »