Domestic partner issue difficult

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Domestic partner issue difficult

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Friday, 26 February 2010 08:52

Kissimmee commissioners have a difficult road ahead when they consider whether to allow city employees to buy health insurance for their domestic partners, whether those partners are the same or opposite sex. The policy, if approved, would allow employees with domestic partners the same benefits their married counterparts already receive.
Commissioner Cheryl Grieb said the proposal is a health care and an equal rights issue, not one on whether gay people living together is right or wrong. We believe Grieb has the best interests of city employees at heart in this matter.
If such benefits were extended to employees’ domestic partners, there likely would be some added administrative costs – though minimal, we believe – as the city would have more paperwork to process. Plus, if the financial payout for claims were to rise dramatically due to the poor health of additional health plan members, costs for premiums could go up significantly for all involved. However, such a scenario is impossible to predict.
One could argue that the city should allow employees to be able to pay for coverage for their same-sex partners because these couples in Florida have no way to legalize their relationships. In the same way, one could argue that opposite-sex partners should not be given this option, mainly because they do have a legal remedy – marriage.
And then there is the issue of establishing a criteria for a legitimate partnership. Would it be based solely on cohabitation? On whether there are shared financial resources or obligations? On some other criteria?
There will have to be some minimal proof of a partnership so that there is no abuse of the benefit. In addition, there is the issue of domestic partners becoming estranged. What paperwork would be needed to prove the life change? Gay couples, for example, cannot be legally married in Florida and therefore cannot be legally divorced, hence, no paperwork. Plus, if coverage were requested for a partner and denied, would the employee have an appeal process? Who would make the final decision?
We believe city officials should address these questions before making a decision.