When the New York Times calculated the extra costs that gay couples incur because of their inability to marry — including tax preparation costs and Social Security payments — healthcare expenses were some of the most significant costs. Not all employers offer domestic partner insurance, and those that do often tax workers on the value of the benefits.
New York made gay couples who were married eligible for spousal coverage in 2008, when the New York State Insurance Department clarified that same-sex spouses — married in states other than New York, where gay marriage was then illegal — were to be treated as spouses for insurance purposes.
There are a few exceptions to the change: Employers who don’t contract with an insurance company but instead pay for health benefits out of their own assets do not have to comply with state insurance laws and will not be required to cover same-sex spouses.
Read the New York Times report on gay marriage and health insurance.
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