Obamacare Insurance Must Now Cover Gay Spouses, Too

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



DYLAN SCOTT – MARCH 14, 2014, 12:25 PM EDT

Health insurance offered through Obamacare must cover same-sex married couples the same as they would opposite-sex married couples starting in 2015, the Obama administration announced Friday.

"If an insurance company offers coverage to opposite-sex spouses, it cannot choose to deny that coverage to same-sex spouses," Matt Heintz, director for provider and LGBT outreach at the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in a blog post.

"In other words, insurance companies will not be permitted to discriminate against married same-sex couples when offering coverage. This will further enhance access to health care for all Americans, including those with same-sex spouses."

The new requirement applies to all legally married same-sex couples, regardless of where they live, Heintz wrote.



Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obamacare-gay-spouses

[tridim]

1. Strawman Obama wants you to know this is only for gay Wall Street couples, Neo-DU. nt

[olddad56]

8. weak comment

[Ligyron]

2. Holy shit Batman!

This is going to cause some hilarious outrage from the RWNJ and their mouthpieces.

[Sunlei]

6. The big republicans call these slow-little r voters who need all this RW media reminding....

"Squidges". That description of the 'hater' little republican voters, is from McCain who also used the word 'Hobbits' to describe the republican tea party woman. Their (R)McCain is a barrel of laughs for his party.

[uppityperson]

3. I am not sure why this is newsworthy, falls inder "well, duh" sort of thing

On the other hand, I very much understand why it is newsworthy, kick and rec.

[mostlyconfused]

4. Plus, why is it big news now...

The law was passed years ago. I've not read the entire bill, but if this language is in the law, it is surprising that it would be so newsworthly now. In other words, why "announce" it now when it should have been talked about originally as a reason to pass the law.

[karynnj]

12. It is a major big deal -- another step in really honoring all marriages equally

Years ago, someone here posted a long list of "rights" that married Heterosexuals could immediately get - that were not routinely available to people in gay marriages or civil unions.

While having the right to marry is, of course, the big milestone, it becomes more real as each trapping of marriage is given.

[uppityperson]

14. Oh, I agree, very much, it is a huge thing. I am so looking forward to when marriage equality is

not an issue.

That is what I meant, sorry for not being clear. With each step, it gets closer and more is needed.

[Sunlei]

5. Of course all spouses can. The only reason 'conservative media' makes this newsworthy is to piss

off their homophobic, discriminatory, hate everything 'Obama' republican 'base' even more than they already are.

[Tx4obama]

7. An additional (longer) article from the AP on the link below...

New insurance rights for same-sex couples

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_NEW_RULES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-03-14-17-49-49

[jenmito]

9. “This administration is the most hostile-to-traditional-marriage administration this country has

ever seen.” So says Rafael Edward Cruz. I LOVE that Obama drives these homophobes crazy just because he's doing what's RIGHT. K&R&T.

[Cha]

11. Evangelist Franklin Graham: Putin is better on gay issues than Obama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024669995

jenmito

[jenmito]

15. Wow...

I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not. Thanks for the link!
Cha!

[Cha]

16. ..

jenmito~

[Cha]

10. Progressive! Thanks Obama!

Mahalo Don~

[Politicub]

13. Progress is a beautiful thing