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Written by WiG
Feb 8, 2012
The federal HealthCare.gov site has been updated to help same-sex couples find insurance plans that offer domestic partner coverage, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced this week.
The Health Plan Finder tool on HealthCare.gov allows consumers to compare the cost sharing and benefit choices of health plans and choose the best option to meet their needs. As a part of the plan finder update, same-sex couples, can now filter plans that offer coverage for all members of their family.
“Last year, as part of our commitment to work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and be more responsive to the needs of these populations, we promised to improve the Health Plan Finder tool to give these individuals the ability to search for health plans that provide same-sex partner benefits,” Sebelius said in a statement. “Today we have delivered on that promise.”
Consumers looking for information on same-sex partner coverage can also access HealthCare.gov’s regular features, such as sorting based on enrollment, out-of-pocket expenses or other key categories. The same-sex partner filter also is available for small businesses looking for coverage for their employees.
Studies have shown that a portion of the LGBT community is disproportionately uninsured, including those without access to coverage through a spouse, domestic partner or employer.
“In the past, many same-sex couples have faced challenges searching for health coverage that suited their needs,” said Steve Larsen, director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. “This tool will eliminate the guesswork, providing an enhanced resource for exploring insurance coverage.”
HealthCare.gov was created under the Affordable Care Act and is the first site of its kind to bring information and links to health insurance plans to one place, and to make it easy for consumers to learn about and compare their insurance options.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services worked to define and collect detailed benefits and premium rating information from insurers across the country to develop the site.
