Gay Couples May Have to Marry ... to Keep Benefits

Some New York companies phasing out 'domestic partner' perks
By Tim Karan,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 29, 2011 5:09 PM CDT
New York Gay Couples May Be Force to Marry... for Health Benefits
Some in same-sex relationships in New York may have to marry in order to keep health benefits.   (Shutterstock)

Now that gay marriage is legal in New York, some couples might have no choice but to take the plunge—at least if they want to keep their health insurance. Two major companies—Raytheon and IBM—say employees in same-sex relationships must get married if they want to keep the benefits they now get as "domestic partners," reports the Wall Street Journal.

Employees at both companies will have a grace period of several months to decide. Neither offers domestic partner benefits to non-married hetero couples, and now that gay weddings are legal, the exception will no longer be available to same-sex workers. Most companies in states where gay marriage is legal continue to offer the option to gay couples, according to a 2011 study cited by the Journal. Click to read a critic who thinks President Obama is failing to lead on gay marriage.)

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