Thursday, 1 August 2013

Domestic Partners and Health Insurance Reform

An increasing number of companies have acknowledged the health care needs of gay and lesbian employees, as well as their partners. Many large corporations extend health coverage to their employees' partners, just as they do for the spouses and children of heterosexual employees. However, the majority of family health insurance options on the open market do not make such coverage available.

Health care reform leaves that status largely unchanged. It does not mandate or forbid employers from providing health coverage to the gay or lesbian partners of employees; one-in-five already do. If businesses end up paying higher rates (due to the influx of unhealthier patients with pre-existing conditions, who cannot be charged significantly greater premiums), they may decide to drop coverage of dependents and spouses entirely.

That would not have a discriminatory impact on gay and lesbian employees, though.
On the other hand, it will help those who are uninsured largely due to their inability to join their domestic partner's policy find affordable health insurance. Many will be eligible for subsidies to buy policies.
 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4138069
 


 
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