Federal Law GRANTS Health Benefits To PETS But NOT SAME-SEX Partners

[Segami]

" Federal employees can use their insurance plans to buy coverage for a cat and dog -- but not a same-sex partner.


Igor Volsky of Think Progress on Wednesday night picked up on an email from Aetna to federal employees covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, which illuminates how brazenly the law shortchanges same-sex couples.


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“In these challenging economic times," reads the email, "it’s good to know you can get some financial protection for unexpected illness and injury to your pets." It then lists the various benefits.


Volsky notes: "The insurance is a handsome perk for those who can afford it, but what’s illuminating about the ad is that while federal employees can buy pet insurance 'in these challenging economic times,' LGBT workers are still prohibited from purchasing policies for their partners or spouses by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) — a federal law which denies federal benefits to legally married same sex couples."

The federal statute under DOMA essentially ensures that the government goes out of its way to deny married gay couples the kinds of incremental benefits that insurance companies deem appropriate for even pets.


cont'

<http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/10/federal-law-grants-health-benefits-pets-samesex-partners/>

[xchrom]

1. I have to laugh at the bizarreness of it all. Nt

[notesdev]

2. This is just cross-selling

it's not actually included in federal benefits packages, it's a separate policy altogether.

[Upton]

3. Okay..so same sex couples are getting screwed over..

but that's no reason to diss pet insurance. My animals are my family.

[Scuba]

4. If my two dogs are both females can I... n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Typical of the self righteous heterosexualist community