Federal Health Insurance Plans For Pets, But Not Domestic Partners?
Posted: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
by Yamileth Medina
VitalOne Health
Government employees are well known (and sometimes envied) for having high-quality health insurance plans. Their benefits are typically more generous than those in the private sector, with higher coverage limits and lower deductibles and co-payments. Meanwhile, the portion of monthly premiums paid by workers is generally in expensive.
Recently, these benefits have come under fire. Historically, they are the result of strong labor unions and their agreements to lower maximum pay scales. However, as the federal government (as well as its state, county, and local counterparts) is having budget struggles, it is one of the highest seemingly fixed costs. The public is angry that a relatively small percentage of people are benefiting, while services are cut and/or taxes are raised.
Normally, this would be an additional perk that would recieve little notice. The issue comes in when federal employees are not allowed to buy coverage for their domestic partners through the benefits program. GLBT groups have criticized the program for implying that a dog or cat is more valuable than a gay, lesbian, or transgender person. In their defense, the pet insurance is an additional product and not a formal part of the federal benefits package. Still, the implications were uncomfortable for some.
This situation is an unfortunate side effect of the Defense of Marriage Act. That law prohibits the federal government from offering benefits--such as health insurance plans--to same-sex domestic partners, whether or not they are legally married or in a civil union.
What is the financial impact of extending benefits to nearly 30,000 employees' partners? According to the Congressional Budget Office, it would cost the FEHB about $310 million through the next decade. Currently, there are two bills pending in the House of Representatives and Senate to extend full federal benefits to same-sex partners of government employees. They have made it out of committee, but have stalled due to bipartisan budget concerns.
Yamileth Medina is an up and coming expert on Health Insurance and Healthcare Reform. She aims to help people realize that they can find quality health insurance plans right now. Yamileth lives in Miami, FL.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I find the conservative attitude in America towards same sex marriage very disturbing. I hope those bills do go through.
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