Thursday, December 26, 2002
Regence Blue Shield insurance extends policy to domestic partners
A story published today by the Seattle Times reports that Regence BlueShield is extending coverage to domestic partners working at small businesses which takes effect Jan. 1.
Regence becomes the last major insurer in the Puget Sound region to make coverage for unmarried couples available to businesses regardless of their size.
Regence for several years has offered dependent coverage for live-in partners — gay or straight — but only to employers with 100 or more workers.
Chris Bruzzo, spokesman for Regence, said more small businesses are wanting to add domestic partners of employees to their insurance plans. Bruzzo said Regence held off on giving that option to firms with 99 or fewer workers — who account for a third of the private work force in the United States — because of concerns about underwriting risks.
Bruzzo said Regence asks employers to collect signed affidavits from workers before they can enroll a domestic partner. Such couples must share a permanent residence and basic living expenses, among other things. The affidavits are meant to ensure that employees won't simply add a sick friend or relative to their health plan as a dependent, Bruzzo said.
