LGBTQ people face significant barriers to accessing health care, including widespread discrimination in healthcare settings. NCLR engages in a wide range of advocacy, including litigation, policy, and legislation, to improve access to and eradicate discrimination in health care, especially with respect to gender-affirming care for transgender people.
Healthcare
Photo Courtesy The Gender Spectrum Collection
Advocacy
Legislation & Policy
Medicare for All
Federal
On February 27, 2019, Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA) introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R.1384/S.1804) to establish a national health insurance program to combat the high costs of healthcare and health-related services for all U.S. residents. The Medicare for All Act would provide guaranteed access to affordable healthcare for all persons living in the U.S. Establishing an universal healthcare system is a top priority for LGBTQ people, because they are less likely to have health insurance than non-LGBTQ people.
Cases & Advocacy
D.H. v. Snyder
Arizona
D.H. and John Doe are transgender teenagers who require male chest reconstruction surgery to treat their gender dysphoria. Arizona is refusing to cover this medically necessary treatment because of a categorical exclusion on covering surgical treatments for gender dysphoria in the state’s Medicaid regulations.
Resources
Press Release
Transgender Teens Bring Class Action Lawsuit Challenging Arizona Medicaid’s Categorical Exclusion of Surgery for Transgender People
August 6, 2020. Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), along with co-counsel King & Spalding LLP and Perkins Coie LLP, filed a class-action lawsuit challenging Arizona Medicaid’s categorical exclusion for surgical treatment for gender dysphoria.
Publications
FAQ: Documents and Protections for LGBTQ People and Their Families During COVID-19 Crisis
In the current Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, LGBTQ+ people may be considering how to protect themselves and their families, and what they wish to happen if they become seriously ill or incapacitated. This FAQ provides information about documents and other legal protections LGBTQ+ people can create to reflect their wishes. View FAQ
