|
SolveYourProblem
Article Series:
Health Insurance
Health
Insurance Options:
Your Spouse or Significant Other
In many places today, health insurance is
not just limited to married persons and one’s dependants anymore.
An individual with a domestic partner can be covered,
as well. This includes persons of the opposite sex as well in many states
persons of the same sex. This allows those people who have
chose to not be married to provide health care benefits to
their partners. This can be very hard in some states that refuse
to recognize any other type of relationship other than marriage
between a man and a woman. But now laws are being passed that
will either allow same sex couples to get legally married or
allow them to be recognized and get the same benefits under
the term domestic partner. Many people choose to not get legally
married, but should still have the right to have the same type
of benefits as married couples. There are some cities and states
that have laws that ensure that this coverage is available
to the people in those communities. You will want to contact
your local government and ask if any laws in this regard apply
to you and your living arrangement. Make sure to find out if
the policies are for just same sex partners or also include
partners of the opposite sex.
Obtaining
one of these insurance policies might prove to be a daunting
task. Most work related insurance policies don’t
offer this extension of benefits to their employees. So far
it is not required for employers to do this either. So you
will need to look for private companies with in your state
and see if and which ones offer this benefit and it is at a
decent cost. Some states actually do have laws in place to
ensure domestic partners are covered and employers must offer
this to all employees as long as they have over 50 people working
for them. Smaller companies with less than 50 employees sometimes
choose to not even carry insurance as a benefit. They don't
get the reduced rates because their employee numbers are too
low. The best option is private companies for most people in
this situation. Remember insurance is a business and broadening
its market base bring the company more money, so more than
likely they will find something for you.
If you do find a policy, make sure you look it over carefully.
Know what the policy covers and doesn’t before buying
it. Make
sure that if you need any specific criteria met prior to purchase
that you have done so and have proof. Some policies require
that you live together and have been together for a minimum
time period. They also might want to know if you are fully
supporting this person and/or if they qualify for health benefits
through somewhere else. Sometime a joint bank account is also
required to prove that you are mutually sharing living expenses
and have access to each other’s money. You want to make sure
that the policy works for you and your partner and will cover
all the needs you both have. Make sure that the plan is affordable
as well. If the price is outrageous and the plan stinks, then
it would be better to just purchase a single plan that just
covers the other person.
This
is not an easy task for most people. Even states that
require employers and private insurance companies to provide
domestic partner insurance still try to find loopholes to not
have to. What people are failing to see is that morality and
ethics are not supposed to keep a person from obtaining medical
coverage for themselves and their partner, regardless of whether
or not they are married or the same sex. Last time I checked
that was discrimination. What is going to happen as society
keeps broadening its horizons on what constitutes a relationship
is many companies are going to find themselves in lawsuits.
One would think it would be cheaper just to offer the insurance
plan. Once the realization that our country is changing its
perspective has set in one would hope the intelligent people
will make sure that all people can get affordable health care
benefits that fit their families needs. The point of health
care is to keep you healthy, not keep you legally married. Click here to to view health insurance quotes, compare plans side-by-side and apply for the most affordable health insurance within your budget. I did this myself (June 17, 2011) to change my health insurance policy. Saved me $84 per month (or $1,008 per year). It's my SolveYourProblem recommendation.
# # # # #
by SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Health
Insurance: Main Page
|
