General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBlue Cross to Provide Family Coverage for Same-Sex Couples and All Domestic Partners in ACA plans.
In order to ensure that our technology was ready for the Affordable Care Act, our company chose to postpone a number of product updates until 2015. One of these was to begin making family coverage available to same-sex married couples and domestic partners (same-sex or opposite-sex) in our ACA-approved plans.
We should have more thoughtfully considered this decision, with full appreciation of the impact it would have on same-sex married couples and domestic partners. Were sorry we failed to do so.
Our employees have worked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Insurance over the past week to update our plans in order to make family coverage available sooner. Those whose policies have been cancelled can reenroll in family coverage, and well work with these families to make this process as easy and seamless as possible. We appreciate our customers willingness to bear with us as we work to make these changes quickly.
Starting Monday, same-sex married couples and anyone in a domestic partnership may purchase new family coverage on or off the Exchange for an effective date of March 1.
Domestic partners and same-sex married couples who enrolled separately on ACA plans can convert them into family plans retroactive to their original effective date.
Small groups will have the option to offer coverage for same-sex married couples and domestic partners beginning with new and renewed plans effective April 1, 2014.
This change affects all of BCBSNCs ACA plans, whether purchased on or off the exchange.
According to a statement from BCBS, approximately 20 couples had been denied family coverage under the previous policy.
The change comes following an online town hall meeting hosted by Equality NC drawing attention to cancellations of married, same-sex couples' BCBS insurance policies in the ACA marketplace.
http://equalitync.org/latest/news/bcbs_coverage_to_gay/