Major Health Insurance Company Partners with Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

Health care reform is something that the next President (and the next Congress) are almost certain to have to address.  The U.S. health care system has been called a "dysfunctional mess," "broken," and "a fiasco."   And those are just some of the things that can be reprinted without pulling out my dictionary of curse words!

But there's some good news coming out of the world of health care today.  Aetna, one of the largest health care companies in the U.S., announced that it will partner with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA). As part of the partnership, Aetna will become the first U.S. health care provider to merge its online health care provider directory to the GLMA's database of LGBT-supportive health professionals.

What does this mean?  Well, for Aetna subscribers, it means that it will become a whole lot easier to find a physician, dentist, therapist or specialist who welcomes LGBT patients.

Within the current health care system, this is good news.  I'm reminded of my first family physician.  I came out to him when I was 18, and his suggested treatment was for me to see a priest for counseling.  Soon afterward he became my former family physician, but not before confusing me and causing me to question my own sexual orientation.

But this decision by Aetna goes just beyond helping those who are questioning their sexuality and turn toward the health care industry (therapists, physicians) for guidance.  This decision also helps place LGBT patients with health care providers who have experience dealing with the physical and mental health issues specific to the LGBT community.  Aetna's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Troyen Brennan, puts it better:

All patients must feel comfortable speaking candidly with their health care providers so that the care delivered is appropriate and effective, and patients can take greater control of their health and well-being...

Providing easy access to the GLMA database...gives gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members one more way to locate physicians who understand their specific medical needs

Let's make this real by looking at a recent study by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Their study found that men who disclose having sex with men to their physicians were twice as likely as those who did not to have been tested for HIV (63 percent vs. 36 percent).  That means that Aetna's decision today helps foster an environment where HIV-testing isn't stigmatized.   And more and frequent testing helps a long way in preventing the spread of HIV.

So while I hesitate to highlight something from a system that so many define as broken and needing repair, today's step by Aetna and the GLMA is a victory for the LGBT community.