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ALBANY, N.Y. -- The state is warning health insurers not to discriminate against transgender individuals.

The Department of Financial Services instructed insurers in a letter to take reasonable steps, including requesting additional information, to determine if an individual is eligible for services prior to denying a claim.

The department said it has received reports that some insurers may be denying claims of transgender individuals because the gender they identify with does not match the gender of people who typically receive certain medical services.

The department offered this example: A person born as a male who presents as a female may be denied a claim for a prostate screening because the insurer's information indicates the person is anatomically a female.

"Transgender persons should not be discriminated against and denied health insurance because of their transgender status nor denied treatment simply due to insurance coding issues," Maria T. Vullo, state financial services superintendent, said in a prepared statement.

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