Should NH town and city health insurance plans cover transgender health care services?

This week, aldermanic committee members in Manchester voted to recommend that transgender health care services, such as sex change surgery, be covered by city health insurance.

Human Resources Director Jane Gile estimates an additional cost of between 80 cents to $1.10 per member per month if transgender services are added to the city health plan. The request is expected to go before the full board for a vote later this month.

Those in favor of covering transgender health care services argue that their inclusion in health care plans would be in accordance with nondiscriminatory provisions contained in Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Others note that there is evidence of a biological basis for a transgender identity, making hormone treatments and sex reassignment necessary medical treatment for some individuals' mental health. 

Opponents, however, counter that the definition of transgender health care services is too broad and could lead to coverage for other services, such as liposuction, that they feel should not be paid by taxpayers. They also contend that transgender services are elective as opposed to medically necessary.

UPDATE: Read our Citizen Voices℠ report and find out where New Hampshire stands on this issue.