Starting next year, insurance companies will be forced to cover so-called ‘gender-affirming care’

Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, health insurance companies in Minnesota will be required to cover so-called “gender-affirming” care in all their health plans that also cover physical and mental health services.

At the end of the 2024 legislative session, Democrats in control of state government passed a flurry of major omnibus bills. Among those pieces of legislation was SF 4097, the commerce omnibus bill.

While SF 4097 contained many different provisions, one of the most controversial was a mandate that health insurance companies cover so-called “gender-affirming care” that is deemed “medically necessary.”

According to the new law, “gender-affirming care” is defined as “all medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services, including telehealth services, that an individual may receive to support and affirm the individual’s gender identity or gender expression and that are legal” under Minnesota’s laws.

Meanwhile, the law defines “medically necessary care” as services that are “consistent with generally accepted practice parameters as determined by health care providers.” In addition, the law says “medically necessary care” must either “help restore or maintain the enrollee’s health” or “prevent deterioration of the enrollee’s condition.”

During debate on the provision at the legislature, Republicans raised alarm about the bill’s lack of age restrictions.

Private businesses and organizations with religious objections to offering coverage of “gender-affirming care” to their employees can request an exemption. To do so, eligible organizations must send a request to their health insurance company that specifically asks for the coverage to be excluded. Organizations that request the exemptions must also inform their employees.

Mandated coverage of “gender-affirming care” starts on Jan. 1 next year. Given this, health insurance companies in Minnesota may decide to increase the costs and premiums paid by their policyholders in order to pay for this new mandate.

Alpha News reached out to UnitedHealthcare, HealthPartners, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Minnesota to ask about this new mandate. Among other questions, the trio of healthcare giants were asked if the mandated “gender-affirming care” coverage would increase costs or premiums for their policyholders.

However, none of the organizations provided comment for this story.

Last week, Alpha News reported that newly passed Minnesota state law will also require health insurance companies to cover elective abortions starting next year.

Recent legislation passed by Democrats in St. Paul

Democrats have had control of the Minnesota House of Representatives, Minnesota Senate, and the state’s governorship since January of 2023. In the last two years, they have passed many controversial, left-wing pieces of legislation.

Last year, Democratic officials authorized legislation which made Minnesota a “Trans Refuge State,” gave illegal immigrants access to state services, legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, and raised taxes and fees.

In the 2024 elections, Republicans won enough seats in the Minnesota House to achieve a 67-67 tie in the chamber. As such, any legislation passed in the upcoming legislative session will need at least one bipartisan vote to pass the House.

Luke Sprinkel

Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.