What Will the Affordable Health Care for America Act do for LGBT Families?
The House of Representatives yesterday passed the health reform bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, by a vote of 220-215. The Wall Street Journal reports the several key provisions of the bill including capping health insurance costs for low- and middle-income families, creating a program for individuals to find policies—including a government-run public option—disallowing insurance companies to drop coverage for pre-existing conditions, and requiring certain employers to provide more comprehensive coverage. The bill also includes a few provisions designed to help gay and lesbian individuals and their families.
The Human Rights Campaign has identified several important, new benefits for LGBT Americans. The two most key among them:
Unequal Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits – the bill ends the unfair taxation of employer-provided domestic partner health benefits, incorporating the language of the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act. Without this tax penalty, more people will be able to afford employer-provided coverage for their families, and more companies will be able to offer these important benefits.
Non-discrimination – the bill prohibits consideration of personal characteristics unrelated to the provision of health care. HRC worked with a coalition of civil rights groups to develop and lobby for this language and we believe it will help protect LGBT people from discrimination in the health care system, where there are currently no federal protections for our community.
The Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act addresses the problem that, although employer-provided health insurance coverage for spouses is tax exempt, domestic partners must pay income tax on the benefits they receive from their partner's employer. If the bill becomes law, domestic partners will no longer pay this additional, inequitable tax.
HRC further reports that the bill "designates LGBT people as a health disparities population" giving our community data collection and grant programs that focus on the health issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity. It also extends Medicaid coverage to early HIV treatment, and funds comprehensive sex education.
The future is uncertain, with the vote of the Senate still required on their version of the bill, approval of both chambers on a final, synthesized version, and President Obama's signature. While the President has indicated his intent to sign, and is "absolutely confident" that the bill will pass the Senate, according to CNN, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid remains uncertain, while Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut promises a filibuster of any bill containing a public option.
Have any insight on this topic? Want to ask a question or make a suggestion? Click here to leave a comment.
Related Articles
- Colorado Senate gives Initial Thumbs Up to Same-Sex Health Benefits
- The Evils of DOMA: COBRA and Health Care
- Colorado Approves ‘Marriage Lite’: Designated Beneficiary Agreement Act
- For Richer Or Poorer: Advice for Couples Planning on a Worry-Free Future
- How to take care of your children after you die
How incredible and exciting. Having the government actually recognize our needs and address them in a law is an experience I never thought I would live to have.
- Janice, 11/08/09 at 11:56 am