Dear John,

We're so excited to share that our class action lawsuit Goidel et al. v Aetna has reached a historic final settlement, resulting in important policy changes as well as awarding thousands of dollars to LGBTQ+ health insurance policyholders who sought fertility treatments in New York.  

This is an amazing win, but we have more battles like this ahead of us. Will you help continue NWLC’s fight for justice for all?

Our lawsuit, filed in 2021, sought equitable access to fertility benefits for LGBTQ+ people. The suit alleged Aetna’s policy for coverage of artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments discriminated against Aetna policyholders in LGBTQ+ relationships by requiring them to pay more out of pocket and wait longer than those in heterosexual couples. 

Under the settlement between Aetna and plaintiffs Emma Goidel, Ilana Lee, Madeleine Lee, and Lesley Brown—who are represented by the National Women’s Law Center and our co-counsel Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP—Aetna made significant changes to its fertility coverage policy. The new policy changes guarantee fully insured plan members have equitable access to fertility treatments without having to undergo costly, time-consuming, and onerous prerequisites or unnecessary artificial insemination cycles before qualifying for coverage of their treatment. In addition to these groundbreaking policy changes, Aetna has agreed to pay thousands of dollars to each class member.  

We have so much gratitude for our clients and their families—and although we have come so far, we won’t stop here.   

We have another lawsuit in California—Berton v. Aetna—where we are seeking to ensure that the policy change we were able to obtain with this settlement extends nationwide. Pitch in to support our work for gender justice.

Thank you for being with us as we continue to fight in the courts, Congress, and beyond to ensure a fair and just world for all.

In solidarity,

Michelle Banker
she/her
Senior Director of Litigation for Reproductive Rights and Health  
National Women's Law Center