Employee Health Coverage for LGBT Partners Hits the Congressional Table

Fiona Carmody
Fiona Carmody
March 30, 2011

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Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Anthony Weiner (D-NY) have introduced the Equal Access to COBRA Act of 2011 to Senate in Washington, DC.

The COBRA Act (or Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) ensures that employers grant continued health insurance coverage to employees and employees’ qualified beneficiaries, in the event that the employee loses or leaves her or his job.

Currently, only the formal spouses or dependent children of employees qualify to receive continuation coverage. The new legislation that has been introduced would extend these rights to the domestic partners and the children of domestic partners of employees, if passed.

Senator Barbara Boxer first introduced this new piece of legislation to the 111th Congress – the very first time that this legislation has ever been introduced to the Senate.

The Human Rights Campaign released a statement applauding the efforts. See their website for more information.

What do you think will happen next?

    Fiona is a Richmond resident from New York with passions for social justice, community cooperation, and house-trained potbelly pigs, and strongly believes in the very real possibility of achieving all three. She is GayRVA.com's editorial intern. E-mail here at fiona@gayrva.com