January 27, 2021
Aetna expanded its coverage of gender-affirming surgery for transgender women, the insurer said Jan. 26.
Under the new policy, breast augmentation for transgender women will be considered a covered service under most of Aetna’s commercial health plans.
The policy change came after transgender women raised access issues to Aetna after their breast augmentation procedures were denied as part of their gender-affirming treatment. The members were represented by Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and civil rights law firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, who worked with Aetna to update its clinical policy bulletin to consider breast augmentation for transgender women as a medically necessary procedure.