Politics & Government
Gender Reassignment Surgery Now Covered for State Employees
New policy follows legal challenge from University of Maryland employee who was denied coverage, according to reports.
The insurance plan for state employees in Maryland now covers gender reassignment surgery.
Also available for retirees and dependents on the employee health plan, the new policy covers mental health services, hormone therapy and surgeries associated with gender reassignment, according to MSNBC.
The decision followed a legal challenge from a University of Maryland School of Medicine employee denied coverage for a transition-related mastectomy.
Jer Welter, managing attorney at Free State Legal, told The Baltimore Sun it's a sweeping change. "It is going from care for gender transition being completely, categorically excluded in all of the plans, to being fully covered under all of the plans, Welter said.
The Sun noted it's unclear how much the policy change will cost the state.
In May, Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a bill into law prohibiting job and housing discrimination based on gender identity, commonly known as the transgender rights bill.
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