Veteran Sues Defense Department Over Daughter's Gender-Affirming Care
A transgender woman in Maine and her father have filed suit against the Department of Defense because military health insurance excludes gender-affirming surgical procedures for dependents covered by the government program.The Military Health System does not cover surgical treatments for gender dysphoria for dependents of service members under a federal law dating back 46 years.
Despite the fact that active duty service members can receive this essential treatment, dependents cannot, highlighting an unacceptable double standard, according to the lawsuit.It was filed by Boston-based GLBTQ Advocates and Defenders, or GLAD, on Monday on behalf of the family.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland, names Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Department of Defense, and TRICARE Health Plans as plaintiffs.
TRICARE administers the Military Health System for active duty, reserve, and retired personnel.“Jane has been denied critical treatments recommended by her doctors solely because of a federal statute dating to 1976, 10 [U.S.
