FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16th, 2025
Contact: Ashley Vaughan
ashley@ncvalues.org
NC VALUES APPLAUDS REINSTATEMENT OF STATE HEALTH PLAN’S EXCLUSION OF GENDER TRANSITION PROCEDURES
The North Carolina Values Coalition applauds the reinstatement of the North Carolina State Health Plan’s longstanding exclusion of taxpayer-funded coverage for gender transition procedures. This action follows the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ order vacating a previous lower court ruling and returning Kadel v. Folwell to federal district court in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision in United States v. Skrmetti.
“This is an important victory for common sense, fiscal responsibility, and the right of North Carolinians to make policy through their elected representatives—not activist courts,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Executive Director of the NC Values Coalition. “Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize harmful and irreversible procedures that go against their values. We commend Treasurer Brad Briner and his predecessor Dale Folwell for defending North Carolina families and standing firm against pressure.”
On Thursday, Former Treasurer Dale Folwell thanked NC Values for its support since the case was first brought in 2022, saying, “This legal battle as to whether taxpayers should pay for gender transition procedures has been a lonely journey with less than a handful of supporters and superb legal advisors. I distinctly remember then-Attorney General Josh Stein saying he would not represent me or the plan, and UNC settling the case and pressuring me to settle. The prayerful support of the NC Values Coalition during these lonely years cannot be overstated. Good policy makes good politics, and as former Governor Jim Martin says, ‘Doing right is rarely wrong.’”
The State Health Plan’s exclusion of transition-related treatments dates back to the 1990s and is consistent with other coverage exclusions designed to protect affordability and ensure that taxpayer dollars go toward legitimate medical needs. The exclusion remained on the Plan’s list even during ongoing litigation.
The reinstated exclusion does not prevent coverage for legitimate medical needs arising from complications of prior gender transition procedures, nor does it eliminate coverage for psychological assessment and therapy related to gender dysphoria.
