CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has announced plans to allow sex reassignment surgery as part of the city’s health benefits package.
Mr. Emanuel said Wednesday the change will ensure transgender employees can get “the medical care that they need.”
The change will first be implemented for non-union employees.
The city says it is working with labor representatives to remove an exclusion of sex-change treatment for union members.
City employees and their dependents would be eligible.
The mayor’s office says the change is expected to be approved by the city’s Benefits Committee on Aug. 11 and would go into effect on Oct. 1.
The change comes after the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois called attention to the denial of health insurance coverage for a transgender city employee.
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