It has often been said that a society is ultimately judged by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members. Connecticut has done much to promote equality and provide opportunities for all of our citizens – far more than many other states and nations – and has a well-deserved reputation for protecting our weakest and most vulnerable citizens from discrimination.
A case in point. Just two years ago, Connecticut enacted Public Act 11-55, “An Act Concerning Discrimination.” It was a groundbreaking step towards prohibiting employment discrimination based on a person’s “gender identity and expression.” However, passing PA 11-55 has not prevented Connecticut employers and insurers from ignoring the broader applications and implications of the law, specifically, as it relates to access to health care. While employers in Connecticut permit transgender employees to participate in their health care plans, ironically those plans typically contain a specific blanket exclusion for all gender identity-related medical treatments, thus related claims are almost always rejected.
