Transgender Health Services Must Be Covered in Nevada

LAS VEGAS – On Thursday, June 25, Nevada Insurance Commissioner, Scott Kipper, issued a bulletin announcing that “prohibitions… of medically necessary health care services to covered persons on the basis of discrimination because of the covered persons’ gender identity or expression,” will no longer be allowed. This means that private insurance companies can’t deny transgender customers coverage for medically necessary health care services that are covered for other customers.

“We are pleased that Commissioner Kipper issued this bulletin to private health insurers covering transgender customers. We had written the commissioner back in October 2014, urging him to require Nevada insurers to cover all their customers regardless of gender identity or expression,” said Tod Story, executive director. “This decision means that gender identity and expression discrimination is no longer allowed when providing health insurance in Nevada. It took the unwavering efforts of many groups and individuals to make this decision a reality, and we commend the Commissioner for responding to these voices.”

The letter to Commissioner Kipper can be found here.

The ACLU of Nevada is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to the defense and advancement of civil liberties and civil rights for all people in Nevada.