What's Happening?
Lawmakers in Congress have decided not to proceed with a plan that would have prohibited insurers in the federal government's health care program from covering gender-affirming care for federal employees and their families. Initially, the House's draft
of the fiscal 2026 Financial Services and General Government appropriations package included language that would have barred federal funds from being used for surgical procedures, puberty blockers, or hormone therapy related to gender-affirming care under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). However, a revised version of the bill, negotiated with Senate appropriators, has removed this language, effectively not imposing any prohibition on gender-affirming care for FEHBP participants. Despite this reversal, the measure alone does not restore access to gender-affirming care, as the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had previously instructed insurance carriers to stop covering these treatments.
Why It's Important?
The decision to drop the plan to codify the ban on gender-affirming care is significant as it reflects ongoing debates and policy shifts regarding healthcare rights for transgender individuals within federal employment. The initial inclusion of the ban in the appropriations package highlighted a potential rollback of healthcare rights, which could have set a precedent for further restrictions. The removal of the language suggests a reluctance to formalize such restrictions at the legislative level, which may be seen as a victory for advocates of transgender rights. However, the existing OPM directive still limits access to gender-affirming care, indicating that the issue remains contentious and unresolved. This development impacts federal employees who rely on FEHBP for their healthcare needs, particularly those seeking gender-affirming treatments.
What's Next?
While the immediate legislative threat has been averted, the broader issue of access to gender-affirming care for federal employees remains unresolved due to the OPM's existing directive. Stakeholders, including advocacy groups and policymakers, may continue to push for changes to OPM's policy to ensure comprehensive healthcare coverage for transgender individuals. Future legislative sessions could revisit the issue, potentially leading to new proposals or amendments aimed at either reinforcing or dismantling existing restrictions. The ongoing dialogue around this topic is likely to influence future policy decisions and could prompt further legal or administrative challenges.
