MN Departments of Commerce and Health issue health insurance guidelines to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression

The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Minnesota Department of Health have issued a revised bulletin to guide health plans and carriers in prohibiting discrimination against enrollees based on gender identity or expression.

The joint bulletin by Commerce and MDH was updated as part of Governor Walz’ executive order 21-25, issued in July 2021, that restricts conversion therapy in Minnesota. Conversion therapy, also known as “reparative therapy,” refers to a counseling practice that seeks to change a patient’s gender or sexual orientation, a practice that has been strongly and uniformly rejected by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and National Education Association for its harmful effects on the long-term mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.

The joint bulletin will help Minnesotans by encouraging health plans and carriers to provide clearer standards of review for Minnesotans seeking gender affirming care and to ensure a process to prevent forms of discrimination against Minnesotans based on gender identity or expression. The bulletin includes:

Key state and federal laws which prohibit discrimination against individuals based on sex and/or gender;
Notice that Commerce and MDH will disapprove policy forms filed by insurers that exclude coverage for medically necessary gender affirming care;
Highlights the leading standard in the field, The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People;
Requests that health plans and carriers identify in their policy, certificate or schedule of benefits, a standard of care established by recognized experts in the field.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Mo Schriner

Minnesota Department of Commerce

Scott Smith

Minnesota Department of Health

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MN Departments of Commerce and Health issue health insurance guidelines to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression

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