GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Spectrum Health and the insurance company it owns, Priority Health, are being sued by a Caledonia resident undergoing gender transition.
The woman says the hospital stopped paying for her medical services this year after paying for it previously.
After the Affordable Care Act became law, the medical portion of gender reassignment was covered.
But this year, the health system started denying coverage based on a case out of a federal district court in Texas.
But Cadence Morton, a 14-year Spectrum employee, claims this is discrimination.
"So basically, in 2017, they were not discriminating against her based on her gender identity, then they in 2018, all of a sudden, decided to discriminate by taking that coverage away," said attorney Christine Yared.
Cadence Morton, who works in information services at Spectrum, was born male but said she always identified a female. In 2011, she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria, which is the condition of being uncomfortable with one's birth gender.
"It is a legitimate medical issue, it's been recognized for a long time now as a necessary medical issue," Yared said.
Morton began the transition nearly seven years ago which includes hormones and surgery.
According to the suit, Morton racked up more than $41,000 in bills between 2011 and 2015.
FULL STORY: WOOD TV