In April, the New York Supreme Court’s Appelate Division ruled by a 5-0 vote – that an insurer must cover a teenage boy gynecomastia surgery. This ruling upheld two lower court decisions that sided with the patient.

   This patient was a 17 year old boy who had been teased by his classmates because of the full appearance of his chest. One of the judges involved called gynecomastia “an objective, tangible, and unusual source  of turmoil, more skin to clubfoot or cleft lip than to a large nose.”

     Of course, gynecomastia can be a serious congenital deformity and its correction should absolutely be covered by insurance. This court decision is a very important precedent.