Human Rights Campaign Foundation Files for Preliminary Injunction to Block Prohibition of Transgender Healthcare Coverage for Federal Employees

by Aneesha Pappy •

WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the law firm Correia & Puth filed an application for a preliminary injunction in their federal lawsuit to block the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) prohibition on health insurance coverage for transgender medical care under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plans. Implemented this year, OPM’s mandate has subjected federal employees and their families to even higher barriers to access potentially life-saving medical care, forcing many to leave their jobs, take on heavier financial burdens or go without care altogether. As Open Season for enrollment in these healthcare plans ends on December 14, a preliminary injunction is crucial to prevent imminent harm to federal employees who need continuing gender-affirming care. According to a new study from the Williams Institute, it is estimated that this policy exclusion impacts health access for at least 39,400 current and former federal employees and their dependents. 

Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Correia & Puth released the following joint statement: 

“Denying critical care to federal employees and their families simply because they are trans is a clear, targeted attack on our community. We took the administration to court, and obtaining a preliminary injunction would bring much-needed relief to our plaintiffs and class members who have suffered under this blatantly discriminatory mandate.”

To receive updates on the case, visit https://www.hrc.org/fehb-class-action.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with 4 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action—working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.

Correia & Puth, PLLC is a civil rights law firm based in the District of Columbia dedicated to representing individuals confronting discrimination, retaliation, and unfair treatment. The lawyers of Correia & Puth are staunch advocates for individuals who face discrimination in the workplace, schools, healthcare settings, and other places of public accommodation. For more information, visit https://correiaputh.com/. 

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