Domestic Developments: Unmarried gays may benefit from Health Care Bill
”Representative Jim McDermott, Democrat of Washington, who proposed the change, said it would ‘correct a longstanding injustice, end a blatant inequity in the tax code and help make health care coverage more affordable for more Americans.”’
From the New York Times, reporting on a number of unnoticed provisions that were proposed in the Health Care Bill that was just passed by US House Members last night. According to the Human Rights Campaign, the ”Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962” bill that was passed last night did indeed several provisions of interest to LGBT families. Currently, those partners are required to pay Federal taxes on health benefits the same as if they were extra income provided by the company. First question: Since legally married gays are not recognized by the Federal government under DOMA, does that mean they would or would not be included in this legislation since their marriage is technically not a domestic partnership? (New York Times)
Health Disparities – the bill specifically designates LGBT people as a health disparities population, opening up health data collection and grant programs focused on health disparities related to sexual orientation and gender identity. With collection of data and funding of research, we can better address the specific health issues facing LGBT people.
Unequal Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits – the bill ends the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, incorporating the language of the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Without this tax penalty, more people will be able to afford employer-provided coverage for their families, and more companies will be able to offer these important benefits.
Portion of a post from on the Human Rights Campaign website. HRC, the nation’s largest gay rights organization, says they specifically aided House Members in constructing language that would assist LGBT citizens in the newly passed, and hotly disputed Health Care Bill. They also list inclusion of language designed for assistance with early care for HIV-infection, improvements to sex-ed, and promotiton of non-discrimination. (HRC)
”We are doing [an] informal whip count and we have found that people are very supportive of this bill…. There has been a good response and people seem to understand the necessity of this bill.”
Representative Tammy Baldwin on the proposal of the ”Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act.” The article from The Hill newspaper states that the bill will give the President the ability to extend health benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees. He says he has limited authority at this time and has gone as far as he can without assistance from Congress. The article also quotes Independent Senator Joe Lieberman as proposing a companion bill in the Senate. Senator Susan Collins appears to be the only Republican on board with the bill so far. Baldwin has a large number of supporters in the House already but, according to the Hill article, still needs 92 more. (The Hill)
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