Aetna Agrees to Settle Lawsuit over Fertility Coverage for LGBTQ+ Customers: What Does This Actually Mean?
Aetna, one of the largest health insurers in the United States, has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers seeking fertility treatment. The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by Emma Goidel and her spouse, Ilana Caplan, highlighted the disparities in coverage for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples. As part of the settlement, Aetna will make significant changes to its fertility treatment coverage policies, ensuring equal access to artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization procedures for all customers, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Key Points:
1. Aetna, a health insurer, has agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of discriminating against LGBTQ+ customers needing fertility treatment.
2. As part of the settlement, Aetna will make artificial insemination coverage standard for all customers nationally and ensure equal access to in-vitro fertilization procedures.
3. Aetna will set aside a $2 million fund to reimburse individuals in New York who were denied reimbursement for artificial insemination under certain commercial insurance plans.
4. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by Emma Goidel and her spouse, Ilana Caplan, who spent over $50,000 on fertility treatments due to Aetna's policy requiring individuals who cannot conceive naturally to pay for artificial insemination cycles before receiving coverage for fertility treatments.
5. Fertility treatment coverage has become more common in recent years, with 45% of employers with 500 or more workers offering IVF coverage in 2022, according to Mercer, a benefits consultant.
Sources:
National Women's Law Center (represented plaintiffs in the case)
CVS Health Corp. (parent company of Aetna)
Mercer (benefits consultant)
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (Sean Tipton)
