[FormerLib]

Sounds like more companies are going to get the hard lessons that the company my wife works for has learned: domestic partner coverage costs much more per employee than family coverage!

Ultimately, it comes down to a question of risk. People in same-sex relationships have this nasty habit of developing a need for very expensive, long-term medical treatment.

In her company's case, they self-insure (but are managed by an outside insurance firm) and they've had to pay out some hefty payments for various HIV/AIDS medication regimens.

The net effect is that everyone's health insurance costs have been skyrocketing since they added domestic partners. Because they are self-insured, it is easy for the employees to check the facts and see that the domestic partner coverage is responsible for nearly all of the increases. That they are having to pay to cover the results of the lifestyle of a perverse minority is particularly galling for many of them.

Fortunately for them, they are an employee-owned company and the chances of the employees getting rid of the domestic partners coverage is very good.

[JesseHousman]

Good points, FL.

[HostileTerritory]

Because they are self-insured, it is easy for the employees to check the facts and see that the domestic partner coverage is responsible for nearly all of the increases.

Just curious, how do they know that domestic partner coverage is the cause? I'm skeptical, only because insurance costs have been skyrocketing for EVERYONE. It's worst at small companies that do not have the clout to bargain a good deal from their insurere. Companies with domestic partner benefits have not been singled out for increases, to the best of my knowledge.