xPost: Ins help needed! CIGNA Open Access Plus....

Hi all,

I am crossing my fingers and hoping that someone here can help me out!

My dilema is, I have been living with my bf for over a year now. We aren't currently planning on getting married (at least not in the next few months) so adding me to his insurance is not that easy. Unfortunately, the insurance company will only allow a "same-sex domestic partner" to be added, or marriage of course. I am living in the state of California. Does anyone out there know how to get around this? I love the job that I have now but they don't offer insurance. So I'm either going to have to find a loop-hole with his through CIGNA Open Access Plus or find another job instead of paying 25K cash for surgery!

Any help or advice would be *GREATLY* appreciated!

Thanks,
Joanne

Hey Joanne-

All I can tell you, is good luck. My husband and I were together for 5 years before we got married, and worked nearly that entire time before we got married on trying to obtain insurance as domestic partners. Unfortunately unless you have a same-sex partnership any insurance company you go through, especially through work, is going to deny you. That is my experience, anyway. It is frustrating, because I am all for same sex domestic partnerships!!! But at the same time, what about those domestic partnerships that decide not to get married, but are pretty much married by common law anyway? It was extremely frustrating for me. Eventually, we got married (not for the insurance, but because we wanted to LOL) and it became a non issue.

Anyway, good luck, either way!

Paula K

My husband and I lived together for several years before marrying and while 2 of my employers insurance plans did not cover domestic partners I found a way with my 3rd and current employer. I now work for a smaller family owned company and I approached our benefits coordinator regarding my situation. My employer made the change with our plan and my husband (live in bf at the time) was added no problem. So, my experience is it comes down to the employer's stance on the situation. If the employer is willing to open their definition of partner then you shouldn't have a problem. If your bf's employer is open to making the change you should look into that. Hope that helps and you find a suitable resolution.
Heather