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.