Tag Archives: insurance

From a memo sent yesterday to Walmart management, forwarded to me by a reader: This week our associates will receive a pre-enrollment postcard at their homes announcing the dates for annual enrollment and providing highlights of the 2014 benefit offerings. Among the information highlighted on the postcard: We will cover domestic partners in the medical, dental, vision, life, critical illness …

Monday night the small Tennessee town of Collegedale became the first in the state to offer benefits to the partners of LGBT employees. For some walking out the doors of Collegedale City Hall on Monday night, that distinction is a badge of honor and a far-reaching victory. For other residents of the small town, it’s a heavy disappointment in what …

The Washington Post reports: “What’s the federal government going to do when you have a valid marriage in New York and the couple moves to Texas? We don’t know the answer to that,” said Scott Macey, president of the ERISA Industry Committee that represents large employers. The confusion is creating uncertainty for many companies that operate nationwide and want to …

From the Office Of Personnel Management: Health Insurance (FEHB): All legally married same-sex spouses will now be eligible family members under a Self and Family enrollment. In addition, the children of same-sex marriages will be treated just as those of opposite-sex marriages and will be eligible family members according to the same eligibility guidelines. This includes coverage for children of …

A new report from the Movement Advancement Project: A landmark new report released today examines how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers might have the same job as a coworker, yet be legally fired, denied equal benefits and be required to pay thousands of dollars more in taxes simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. A Broken …

Two San Antonio-based Christian groups are threatening to sue the city in order to overturn insurance benefits granted to the partners of LGBT city employees. Pastor Gerald Ripley [left] of Voices for Marriage and Philip Sevilla of Texas Leadership Coalition made the request Wednesday with backing from a few sign-carrying supporters at City Hall. Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an …

GOP Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says that any city that offers domestic partner benefits is in violation of the state constitution. Domestic partnerships, as recognized by the local governments, are close enough to the definition of marriage to violate a constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions that 76 percent of Texas voters approved in 2005, the opinion stated. “By creating …

A crowdfunding website to pay the medical expenses of bombing victim Jeff Bauman has already raised almost $200,000. Bauman lost both of his legs in the attack and a gruesome photo of his injuries instantly became one of the tragedy’s most haunting images. He is also the only person to provide the FBI with an eyewitness description of one of …

After earning record profits in the last year, Regal Cinemas is facing an enormous customer backlash after it was revealed that the company will be slashing staff hours in order to prevent some employees from being covered under Obamacare. The country’s biggest movie theater chain has stirred a hornets’ nest of controversy after announcing in a company memo that it’s …

Gallup reports: While 53% of Americans support legalizing same-sex marriage, significantly higher percentages support the idea of equal rights for partners or spouses of gays or lesbians when it comes to inheritance rights and employee benefits, and making it legal for gays and lesbians to adopt children. Support for all three issues is up at least slightly from three years …

Via press release: In the 2013 CEI, released today, a record 252 businesses achieved the top rating of 100 percent, earning the coveted distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” As a point of comparison, 13 businesses earned a 100 percent in the inaugural CEI 11 years ago, demonstrating that a new normal has arrived. The policies, benefits …

During last night’s debate, Mitt Romney promised that his repeal of Obamacare would protect people with pre-existing conditions. His campaign is already backtracking. Via Talking Points Memo: After the first presidential debate at the University of Denver in Colorado on Wednesday night, one of Mitt Romney’s top advisers acknowledged that, as a result Romney’s plan to repeal Obamacare, people with …

Many of the most expensive luxury cars have failed a new crash test sponsored by the Insurance Institute. The new test examines the results of front-corner crashes, one of the most common angles of crashes in two-way traffic. Most midsize luxury cars — including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — performed poorly in a new frontal crash test developed by the Insurance …

The Office of Personnel Management has announced a proposal under which federal employees can include the children of same-sex partners on their insurance. Under the proposed regulation, children will be eligible for coverage if a parent is in a domestic same-sex relationship with a federal employee who receives coverage through federal programs. These children would be eligible for coverage — …

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that allows state employees to place their same-sex partners on their health insurance. Chris Geidner reports: After the 2011 decision, lawyers for the state asked the Ninth Circuit to re-hear the case en banc, or by an 11-judge panel. On April 3, the Ninth Circuit denied the …

The passage of Amendment One is less than a day old and already North Carolina Republicans are moving to revoke domestic partners insurance. From an email issued by Mecklenbug County Commissioner Bill James to legal staffers: Since Amendment One has passed when will we get a memo or something that outlines what changes we need to make to our health …

On Friday the Montana Supreme Court will hear the case of six same-sex couples who have sued to have their partners covered by their package of employee benefits. The Montana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Donaldson & Guggenheim, et al. v. State of Montana on Friday at the University of Montana. The session will start …

“At the end of the day, we don’t think gay Americans should have to rely on a benevolent corporation or government to provide a plan that meets their needs. We want a system where individuals and couples can make their own health-care decisions. Health-care needs are too important to be left to the discriminatory whims of a third party. When …