Umm... This is kind of a big deal.

If this ruling stands, it'd mean that basically every health insurance plans in America (because of the health insurance marketplace) would be required to cover everything WPATH SoC8 deems medically necessary.

Which is... *everything*.

Holy crap.

https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/cp_wa_20221219_court-rules-that-bcbs-cannot-administer-health-plans-with-gender-affirming-exclusions

VICTORY: Court Rules that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Cannot Administer Health Plans with Gender-Affirming Care Exclusions

“Third-party administrators that accept federal funds cannot discriminate when administering employer-sponsored health plans.”

Lambda Legal

So uhh, let's break this down.

The ruling is based directly on Bostock's sex protections. It means that even plans which are fully paid by the employer would be bound by this, as long as whichever company runs the processing takes even one red cent of federal money.

The ruling will definitely be appealed to the SC. But unless Roberts and Gorsuch reverse their positions in Bostock, I think this one stands.

Overwhelmingly, fully funded insurance plans are administered by big corps, like BCBS or Aetna. All of those companies take federal $.

All of them. Because of the Health Insurance Marketplace.

And once the standard is on medical necessity, the definitive worldwide standards is WPATH SoC8. Which, if you want to check coverage, I did a write up a few months ago (https://stainedglasswoman.substack.com/p/what-do-wpath-standards-of-care-8).

Or you can check this list. **Everything's** on it.

What do WPATH Standards of Care 8 actually say?

From The Blue Bird App

Stained Glass Woman
@Impossible_PhD Oh heck it covers laser and electrolysis. I wonder if I can file a claim for the laser I started months ago. I don't think Milan has any insurance handling arm though.
@EmilyGB20 Most companies let you submit any bill within the last two years.
@Impossible_PhD I mean I can try, I guess. Hmm. I'll need my therapist or someone to help with that because I don't think they'll take my word on it!
How To Force Your Insurer To Cover Your Transition

A tutorial, partially from the Blue Bird Website

Stained Glass Woman
@Impossible_PhD I will. Ill start with my therapist and get an itemized bill from my laser place.