RIGHTSELL v. INDIANA STATE POLICE

**Court Rules Pregnancy Disability Benefits Cannot Be Excluded** Three women who worked for the state of Michigan filed complaints after they were denied long-term disability benefits for pregnancy-related health conditions. The state's insurance plan covered other types of disabilities but specifically excluded pregnancy-related disabilities from coverage. The women argued this exclusion was sex discrimination since only women can become pregnant. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission agreed with the women and found the exclusion violated state civil rights law. However, a lower court overturned that decision. The women appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals, which sided with them and reinstated the original ruling in their favor. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling is important because it establishes that employers cannot exclude pregnancy-related disabilities from benefit plans when they cover other types of disabilities. If your employer offers disability insurance, pregnancy complications and conditions must be treated the same as any other medical condition. This protection helps ensure pregnant workers have equal access to benefits they've earned through their employment. Workers facing similar discrimination can point to this case as precedent for their rights.