California Medicaid policy covers transgender-related health care.

Statutes:

• Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act - Health and Safety Code Section § 1365.5
  Text:

  INGA applies to Medi-Cal managed care plans.

Decisions:

• Court Decision:  J. D. v. Lackner, 80 Cal. App. 3d 90 (Ct. App. 1978)
  Summary:

  Requiring coverage for transgender surgery under California’s Medi-Cal program because trans surgeries do not fall under the cosmetic exclusion. "We do not believe, by the wildest stretch of the imagination, that such surgery can reasonably and logically be characterized as cosmetic."

• Court Decision:  G.B. v. Lackner, 80 Cal. App. 3d 64 (Cal. App. 1978)
  Summary:

  Requiring coverage for transgender surgery under California’s Medi-Cal program because trans surgeries do not fall under the cosmetic exclusion.

• Court Decision:  Jane Doe v. Diana M. Bonta, No. 00CS00954 (Cal. Super. Ct. Sacramento Cty. Jan. 29, 2001)
  Summary:

  California Department of Health Services ordered to approve Jane Doe’s request for surgery, rescind department policy automatically denying coverage for trans-related procedures under Medi-Cal, and review all future requests on a case-by-case basis.

Guidance and Announcements:

• Guidance:  DHCS All Plan Letter 16-013 (2016)

Handbooks and Provider Manuals:

• Provider Manual:  Medi-Cal Provider Manual, Transgender Services (May 2022)

Historical Notes:

Notes: