New York City is facing a discrimination lawsuit after a former assistant district attorney and his husband claimed the city's employee health insurance plan excludes coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) for gay male couples.
The Lawsuit's Allegations
Filed in Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit alleges that the city's health plan discriminates against gay men. The plan only covers IVF for employees and their partners experiencing infertility, with a definition that excludes same-sex male couples. This, according to the lawsuit, forces them to delay starting families due to the high cost of IVF.
The plaintiffs, Corey Briskin and his husband, are seeking class-action status, representing all gay male city employees denied IVF coverage. Their lawyer, Peter Romer-Friedman, claims this is the first lawsuit specifically challenging a health plan's discrimination against gay men regarding fertility treatments.
A City Policy Under Scrutiny
The lawsuit shines a light on the city's current policy regarding employee health insurance and LGBTQ+ rights. While the New York City Council is considering a bill to mandate IVF coverage for all employees, regardless of sexual orientation, the current policy remains discriminatory.
Fighting for Equal Access
This lawsuit adds to a growing trend of legal challenges against unequal insurance benefits based on sexual orientation. Briskin and his husband's case highlights the specific barriers faced by gay male couples when it comes to starting a family and accessing fertility treatments.
Source: Reuters
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