‘Love wins’ doesn’t guarantee dependent health benefits
By Paula Burkes, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Private sector employers with self-funded plans still can decide whether they want to extend health insurance benefits to same-sex spouses, said
Traditionally, those workers are covered under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which has no requirement to cover any spouse, Howard said.
"An employer can do what they want," she said. "What governs is the plan document, and employers need to amend those documents as they wish."
For its part, Schnake Turnbo Frank public relations firm "is happy to extend the benefit," president and chief operating officer
"We encourage employers across
Insurance changes
Meanwhile,
"Heterosexuals currently can sign an affidavit representing themselves as unmarried partners by presenting joint checking accounts or tax returns," Marr-Crum said.
"We think it will be the same for unmarried, same-sex partners."
The Affordable Care Act requires coverage on the same terms and conditions be extended to same-sex spouses that is offered to opposite-sex spouses. Consequently,
"Many employers have already added the provision for same-sex coverage this year," principal
"Other CEOs have commented that they felt that this option was coming anyway and that they did not intend to go out of their way to curtail the option for coverage," Pettigrew said.
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