Hilary Swank Is Taking Legal Action Against SAG-AFTRA's Health Plan After They Denied Coverage for Ovarian Cysts

Hilary Swank has made a decision to seek legal action and sue SAG-AFTRA’s Health Plan.

The Away actress filed her lawsuit this week, which claims that the health plan denied her coverage for the treatment of ovarian cysts.

Court documents state that Hilary was diagnosed with ovarian cysts in 2008, and that the health plan has stopped “allowing Swank’s claims for treatment of ovarian cysts” in 2015.

After being diagnosed in 2008, Hilary underwent emergency surgery to remove her left ovary after it was destroyed due to a cyst.

In a statement, via People, Hilary says that she is “truly exhausted by the way women’s ovarian and cyclical health issues continue to be treated by healthcare insurance companies. I have experienced it in my own life, and I continually read about it across social media and in the press. Their policies are antiquated, barbaric and primarily view the role of women’s organs solely as a means for procreation.”

She continued, “My hope is to create change for all woman suffering from women’s health issues that have to battle with insurance companies who diminish the significance of their problems, don’t believe the patient (or their doctor’s) explanations surrounding their suffering, and severely preclude coverage to only incredibly limited services and procedures. It’s painful enough having to deal with the nature of a female health issue, let alone having to wrestle with the stress of trying to get your insurance company to provide the coverage and care that their contract explicitly states they offer.”

“After years of experiencing my own health issues and the ensuing denials from my healthcare company for services that are medically proven to preserve my life, and seeing how expensive this is to support without the help of an insurance company, I decided to speak up,” Hilary added. “Based on what I learned, I know that most women can’t afford the medical treatments necessary to cover simple female health issues. I can only assume they either financially deplete their resources, or they forgo the treatments, quietly suffering in pain and risking their lives.”

“My hope is to be a voice for them. SAG/AFTRA Healthplan claim they treat and protect all their members equally. I don’t believe this is true. If you’re a woman suffering from female health issues, I have no doubt you’ll agree with me. If you’re a man, ask your mother, your daughter, your sister, or a girlfriend. I already know the answer. I’m suing SAG/AFTRA Healthplan. It’s time we are treated fairly.”

Just recently, Hilary opened up about why she took an extended break from acting.