HRC: White House Announces Further Benefits for Same-Sex Partners of Federal Employees

clipped from www.hrcbackstory.org By Michael Cole June 2nd, 2010 at 6:36 pm Today the White House announced that federal agencies will provide additional benefits to same-sex couples to the extent allowed under current statutory restrictions. Some of the benefits announced today were part of HRC’s Blueprint for Positive Change, a document recommending policy changes that could be made by the administration to better the lives of LGBT people. The so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevents the federal government from recognizing and extending benefits to lawfully married same-sex couples. As a result, same-sex partners of federal employees are denied important benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, a bill currently before Congress, would extend these basic protections to federal employees with a same-sex partner. Said HRC President Joe Solmonese: “All employees should be treated equally and without discrimination, whether they are straight or LGBT and this is certainly a positive step in that direction. The limitations of these new benefits however serve as a glaring reminder that the Defense of Marriage Act ultimately stands in the way of providing true equality to LGBT Americans. We welcome the President’s renewed call to pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act and call on Congress to pass it swiftly. When a majority of the Fortune 500 offer equal benefits, it should be a no-brainer that the federal government catch up.”

clipped from www.hrcbackstory.org Long-Term Care Insurance Extended to Domestic Partners of Federal Employees By Brian Moulton June 2nd, 2010 at 9:49 am Yesterday, the Office of Personnel Management published a final rule in the Federal Register that permits the same-sex domestic partners of federal employees to utilize the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Unlike many other benefits for federal employees such as health insurance and retirement plans, the cost of FLTCIP is borne entirely by the employee, and thus opening up this program to same-sex partners did not require a statutory change. (HRC continues to work with our congressional leaders to pass the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, which would provide those important benefits.) Long term care insurance helps cover the cost of lengthy hospitalization, nursing care or other extended care that is usually not covered by traditional health insurance. Last September, OPM identified this benefit as one that it could provide without further action by Congress, pursuant to the June 2009 memorandum from President Obama directing all agencies to find ways to equalize benefits for same-sex partners of their employees. Extending this benefit was one of the recommendations identified in HRC’s Blueprint for Positive Change. If you’re a federal employee interested in applying for long term care insurance for your partner, there are further details and an application here. Applications will be accepted starting 30 days from yesterday.