Religious discrimination in insurance

[Richards, Edward P.]

Just had a question from a lawyer about an interesting health law case.  A Jehovah's Witness has commercial health insurance.  He needs surgery, but the plan refuses to authorize care at a medical center that offers bloodless surgery.  (There are well established but not widely available techniques to reduce the chance of needing blood in surgery, which is important if the patient has refused blood.)  The plans says it is providing standard of care and does not need to accommodate the patient's religious beliefs.  Since the plan's care is no care as far as the patient is concerned, he has to pay for the bloodless procedure himself.

Does this raise any issues under the civil rights laws?

Thanks!

Ed