The Trump administration has announced a ban on federal health insurance coverage for gender-affirming care through the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This decision affects chemical and surgical modifications for all ages and will be effective in 2026. The Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs cover millions of employees, with roughly 14,000 federal employees identifying as transgender. Exceptions for hormone therapies will depend on mid-treatment cases. Counseling services for gender dysphoria will still be available, with no restrictions on mental health provider qualifications.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Healthcare and Insurance division announced in an internal letter that 'chemical and surgical modification of an individual's sex traits through medical interventions will no longer be covered under the FEHB or PSHB programs, regardless of age.' This change impacts how the government will fund gender-affirming care, which includes hormone therapies for transgender individuals.
More than eight million federal employees are covered by the FEHB, and two million additional postal workers are covered under the PSHB. The changes will be implemented in 2026.
Exceptions to the denial of hormone therapies will be available for patients 'who are mid-treatment within a surgical and/or hormonal regimen for diagnosed gender dysphoria.' Healthcare providers will determine qualifications on a 'case-by-case basis.'
Counseling services for gender dysphoria remain covered, provided they are by licensed mental health providers, which can include faith-based counselors.
#gender-affirming-care #health-insurance #transgender-rights #federal-health-benefits #trump-administration
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