Thursday, October 3, 2002
Maine’s Cumberland County ponders on domestic partner benefits for employees
A story published today by the Portland Press Herald reports that Cumberland County commissioners are considering a domestic partner benefits policy to county employees.
If the commission decides to offer domestic partner benefits, the county would join the growing number of public agencies in the state that offer health coverage to unmarried couples. They include the city of Portland and 27 other municipal groups that get insurance through the Maine Municipal Association.
The commission has held one workshop on the issue, and a follow-up workshop is scheduled for Oct. 28. The three-member commission is expected to vote on the matter Nov. 12.
"I certainly am open to the concept of treating domestic partners as we treat married people," said Commissioner Esther Clenott of Portland. "Right now we're considering the financial impact and the contract issues involved."
The county has both non-union and union employees who belong to the Teamsters and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Union officials spoke in favor of domestic partner benefits at a commission workshop last month.
The county has 333 employees. Based on national statistics, about 3 percent of employees typically take advantage of domestic partner benefits.
The county predicts that about 10 county employees would take advantage of domestic partner benefits. The county would pay an additional $3,728 per year for health benefits for each domestic partner who participates. That's the difference between the $4,695 the county pays for individual health coverage and the $8,423 it pays for family coverage.
As with most domestic partner policies, county employees would have to show proof that they had a domestic partner, such as mortgage, rent, life insurance or bank documents. Employees would risk losing their health coverage altogether if they were found to be using the benefit with someone who wasn't a domestic partner.
Despite those drawbacks, a group of county employees are promoting the domestic partner policy, and Sheriff Mark Dion is among the civic leaders who have shown their support. They say offering domestic partner benefits would help attract and keep employees, especially when the county jail has had difficulty recruiting guards.
