Maryland updates Health and Welfare Benefits to include gay “spouses” of state employees
Important Benefit Update Concerning Same-Sex Spouse
The State of Maryland Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program (Program) will be immediately updated to include same-sex spouses as eligible dependents under the Program. Those individuals who already possess a valid marriage certificate from a jurisdiction that authorizes such unions, may complete an enrollment form to cover the spouse for a July 1, 2010 effective date.…
Following Open Enrollment, as individuals marry their same sex partners, they can add the spouse under the usual qualified family status change process (i.e. submit the enrollment form, spouse tax affidavit and valid marriage certificate within 60 days of the marriage)….
Portion of new guidelines from the state of Maryland that will allow same-sex spouses to qualify to receive certain benefits, however, it appears that the benefits received are still taxable as “imputed income” by Federal tax laws that does not recognize marriage for same sex couples. (Maryland Department of Budget and Management)
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