Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Sarpy County to extend health insurance benefits to spouses of gay workers
http://www.omaha.com/article/20140128/NEWS/140128559/1685#sarpy-county-to-extend-health-insurance-benefits-to-spouses-of-gay-workers
Published Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 1:00 am / Updated at 1:19 am
By Emily Nohr
Sarpy County will extend health insurance benefits to spouses of gay employees who legally married in another state but live in Nebraska.
The Sarpy County Board voted 3-2 Tuesday to provide coverage to legally married same-sex spouses, regardless of their residency.
Effective Feb. 1, the coverage is through the county's health provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, which changed its definition of a spouse after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act.
For some Blue Cross clients, the policy change was automatic. But others, including governments, have the option to keep the old definition, which recognized only spouses who live in a state that legally allows the marriage.
FULL story at link.