Federal Employee Health Benefits: Dogs, Yes; Gay Partners, No

[The Straight Story]

Federal Employee Health Benefits: Dogs, Yes; Gay Partners, No


Homosexual, bisexual and transgender employees of the federal government can’t even treat their partners like a dog. That’s because under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, a worker has the option of buying health coverage for their canine companion, but not for a domestic partner, thanks to the Defense of Marriage Act that banned gay marriage in 1996.

President Barack Obama has said he supports repealing the anti-gay marriage law, but hasn’t pushed Congress to do so. As a matter of fact, his Department of Justice continues to defend it in court.

Instead, Obama told federal agencies to review their benefits plans with an eye towards extending benefits as long-term health insurance, credit union membership, access to fitness facilities, and planning and counseling services to domestic partners.

Meanwhile, Aetna sent an email to federal employees offering discounts for insurance plans for their pets that assured potential buyers that “There are no maximum age limits to insure your pet.”

http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Federal_Employee_Health_Benefits__Dogs_Yes_Gay_Partners_No_101018

[TheWraith]

1. That's a misrepresentation of the facts.

Aetna's insurance for pets is in no way even remotely covered by federal benefits. They're just advertising to their known customer base.

[Individualist]

2. The author of that article didn't do his homework

Pets are not covered by FEHB. See http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/eligibility/index.asp.

[Radical Activist]

3. I decided to look for articles on the benefits extended to same-sex partners

by the Obama administration. Dismissing it as merely a "review" is misleading. I noticed that none of the articles get specific about what those benefits are. They all push the message that gay rights groups are angry with Obama and this won't be enough to appease them. It's obvious what message the media is choosing to push, and that doesn't include giving people facts to make up their own minds.

[CreekDog]

4. I'll call this a LIE (DOGS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR FED HEALTH BENEFITS)

the pet insurance policy is an outside of government policy, not paid for by taxpayers or regulated by the government.

if Aetna wanted to offer insurance to a same sex partner (and they do sell individual policies), they can do so.

all this should change, but the analogy that a dog is treated better than a person because of something the government has done, is completely wrong.

that said, partners should be eligible for employer insurance coverage or better yet, just let everyone have a single-payer or Medicare for all health care and we can stop worrying who loves who when they simply need health care.

(and since your title is a rather appalling lie, you should fix it or delete it)

[SocialistLez]

5. Yet another reason we need single-payer

Everyone would be covered.

No need to give your employer the stink eye because they: a. won't provide benefits
b. won't provide family benefits
c. won't cover your same-sex partner
d. won't cover