The move was lobbied by ACLU of Kansas and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund after Charley Osman, a transgender Kansas man, was denied coverage while seeking preauthorization for two gender-affirming surgeries, according to a Dec. 9 news release.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not the first person to go through this, but I want to be sure I’m the last,” Mr. Osman said. “This is an incredibly expensive surgery, and for a long time I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to have it. I’m very glad Blue Cross Blue Shield changed their policies so that no one else has to go through what I did.”
The policy is one of several that advocates are looking to change on the basis of them allegedly excluding transgender individuals from coverage, according to the news release.
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