The Lyon Judicial Court has ruled against both the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) and the Rhône CPAM for their refusal to cover medical expenses related to gender affirmation procedures for four transgender individuals.

A Decision Praised by Advocacy Groups

The organization Fransgenre hailed these rulings as “historic judgments” in an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, May 6. The legal actions were initiated by four claimants challenging the conditions set for the reimbursement of chest surgery and the refusal to cover a transgender minor under the long-term illness (ALD) scheme.

Following the proceedings, the Lyon Judicial Court ordered CNAM and the Rhône CPAM to pay damages ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 euros for emotional distress. The court also mandated coverage of healthcare expenses related to the claimants’ transgender identities.

A Healthcare Path Deemed Discriminatory

The plaintiffs criticized the requirement to follow a psychiatric treatment path and provide medical documentation to qualify for reimbursements. This type of process is no longer mandatory today.

The court based its decision on the European Convention on Human Rights and European data protection regulations. It concluded that the coverage procedures had infringed on the privacy of the individuals involved and constituted gender identity-based discrimination.

Compensation for Advocacy Groups

A notable aspect of this case was the court’s recognition of the vital role played by advocacy groups in supporting transgender individuals, both legally and morally.

As a result, damages were awarded to the civil party associations, including SOS Homophobia, the LGBTI Center of Lyon, Chrysalide, Fransgenre, and the Family Planning of Rhône.

Several Similar Rulings in Recent Years

The acknowledgment of privacy violation and emotional distress marks significant progress in this type of litigation. However, this ruling follows a series of recent judgments against various health insurance funds.

In May 2025, the CPAM of Bas-Rhin was compelled to fund a mastectomy for a transgender man and pay 3,000 euros in damages. A few weeks later, in June 2025, the CPAM of Seine-Saint-Denis was also ordered to pay damages following their refusal to support the healthcare of two young men undergoing transition.

More recently, just in January, the Grenoble Judicial Court penalized the CPAM and CNAM of Isère for failing to cover the medical treatments of a 29-year-old transgender woman.

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