The U.S. Office of Personnel Management will end coverage of gender transition-related surgeries and hormone treatments under the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits programs, beginning in 2026.
In an Aug. 15 letter to carriers, OPM said medical interventions for the chemical and surgical modification of sex traits, including gender transition services, will be excluded from coverage regardless of age.
Counseling services for possible or diagnosed gender dysphoria will remain covered when provided by licensed mental health professionals. Health plans must create an exceptions process for enrollees who are mid-treatment with surgical or hormonal regimens.
The agency said that the hormone treatment exclusion only applies to gender transition. Drugs such as GnRH agonists will still be covered when prescribed for conditions including infertility, endometriosis, fibroids or cancer. Provider directories also cannot list physicians for the purpose of delivering gender transition-related services.
More than 2 million federal employees, retirees and their dependents receive FEHB coverage.
