Health Insurance Coverage for Domestic Partners Clears First Hurdle at NM Legislature

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports:

A bill that would require insurance companies to provide health coverage to domestic partners of employees -- if requested by an employer -- cleared its first hurdle Tuesday when it was unanimously endorsed by the House Consumers and Public Affairs Committee.

"What we're doing is kind of working along the edges to close gaps that exist as we move toward universal coverage," bill sponsor Rep. Peter Wirth (photo right), D-Santa Fe, said after the committee hearing.

The bill (House Bill 15) next goes to the House Health and Government Affairs Committee.

I have a personal stake in this one as I get my health insurance via my partner's job. We have to pay extra for it on a taxable basis, but if my partner's employer didn't use an insurer that provides such coverage, I'd be out of luck. And that insurer could change its mind any time about offerering domestic partner coverage.

There are a number of insurers (not to mention employers) in NM that flat out refuse to offer it. If my partner took a job at a company using one of them, I'd lose my coverage. Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to purchase COBRA coverage if my partner should lose her job for any reason, unlike the spouses and dependents of employees, but at least I have it for now. Sadly, my partner has actually had to turn down jobs with employers whose insurance plans refused to offer domestic coverage, despite the fact the employer wanted it. Unfair indeed.

Fortunately, it looks like this bill, which would apply to both straight and gay domestic partners, has a good chance of passing, according to its sponsor:

Wirth said he has received overwhelmingly positive feedback to his bill. "This is one of those bills that really makes sense," Wirth said.

This bill is one of the legislative efforts being supported by Equality New Mexico. Click here for their report on the bill, which includes some warnings about possible right wing interest in excluding GLBT citizens from coverage by introducing a Super DOMA bill. Also see my previous post for more info on EQNM's legislative plans.

Here's a list of members of the House Health and Government Affairs Committee, where the bill will next be heard. It's very important to contact them NOW.

You can see a copy of the bill and follow its progress here. If passed by the House Health & Government Affairs Committee (HHGAC), the bill will go to the Senate for committee assignment there.