Story perspectives

Judge Vacates 2025 Rule Blocking Gender-Affirming Care Coverage

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Senior U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton vacated the gender-affirming care provision of the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule that would have barred non-grandfathered individual and small-group plans from covering gender-affirming procedures starting in 2026.
Twenty states and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro sued, saying the rule was unlawful and would raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said the decision stops illegal denial of promised health coverage.

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Story summary

Senior U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton vacated the gender-affirming care provision of the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule that would have barred non-grandfathered individual and small-group plans from covering gender-affirming procedures starting in 2026.
Twenty states and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro sued, saying the rule was unlawful and would raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said the decision stops illegal denial of promised health coverage.