Legislation surrounding civil unions, same-sex marriages, domestic partnership, and health insurance change often.Laws vary from state to state and can be altered at any time.At Einsurance.com, we aim to provide readers with accurate, up-to-date information written by licensed individuals.However, it’s critical to pay attention to changes in your specific state.

The information we provide in this piece is the current as of January 2024; but you can check for statute updates about domestic partnership benefits in your state with the This article addresses your most frequently asked questions about health insurance for domestic partners.You can skip ahead to read:Before we get into all that, let’s clarify a few definitions.Important Domestic Partner Health Insurance VocabularyIf you’re researching domestic partner health insurance topics, the following terms will come up often: Now that we’ve covered those important phrases, let’s dive deeper into domestic partner health insurance topics.Domestic Partner Health Insurance RequirementsYour first question is, “Does my state allow my domestic partner to be on my health insurance plan?” The answer varies from state to state; and in some states, there is no legal difference between a traditional marriage and a same sex union.If you’re wondering which states offer domestic partner health insurance, we’ve listed them below.Which States Recognize Domestic Partnerships?As of January 2024, domestic partnerships are recognized in:In any of these states, you can add your domestic partner to your health insurance plan, either during annual open enrollment, or when your union is certified by the courts.Hawaii law has a similar system but calls it “reciprocal beneficiaries.”Which States Recognize Civil Unions?For the purpose of this piece, civil unions are much the same as domestic partnerships.They are recognized in:And the following states previously used the term “civil union” but now call same sex unions “marriages”:In any of these states, you can add your domestic partner / spouse to your health insurance policy.Do We Need to Have a Formal Ceremony to Become Domestic Partners and Share Insurance?In states which recognize domestic partnerships, you’ll need to complete some paperwork and probably pay a few small fees, before your domestic partner can be added to your health insurance policy.The paperwork varies among the states and could potentially vary by county.

In short, you need to make your union legal in the eyes of the government.This could involve a courthouse ceremony signed by a judge and sealed by the court, or notarized paperwork, depending on your location.In California, for example, the .Once that’s done, you can add your partner to your health insurance.

Nevada is much the same.Now, let’s move forward to discuss domestic partnerships, health insurance and tax information.Domestic Partner Health Insurance Tax InformationBefore addressing this subject, remember that the Einsurance team specializes in insurance.We are not tax experts or CPAs.We will supply some current quotes from the IRS and some helpful links, but if your questions are deeper than what we cover here, you should ask a legitimate tax expert in your area.Is my Domestic Partner Recognized as a Dependent for Tax Purposes? says, “A registered domestic partner can be a dependent of his or her partner if the requirements of sections 151 and 152 are met.

However, it is unlikely that registered domestic partners will satisfy the gross income requirement of section 152(d)(1)(B) and the support requirement of section 152(d)(1)(C).”In other words, the IRS may or may not accept a domestic partner as a dependent for federal income tax purposes.It depends on how much each partner earns.Talk to a CPA for more nuanced information.At the state level, remember that some states recognize same sex unions as traditional marriages (see the list above.) In those states, your domestic partnership should offer the same tax benefits as any other marriage when it comes to income taxes.Will I Get a Tax Benefit for Adding my Domestic Partner to my Health Insurance Policy?We know this is a common question, but we are reluctant to address it.

Income tax laws vary so much from state to state, and they change so quickly, we don’t wish to mislead you!While this may sound like a broken record, it bears repeating: Please speak to a genuine, licensed tax expert in your local area to really understand the tax implications of adding a domestic partner to your health insurance plan.You may discover that it’s better for each individual to maintain a separate health insurance policy and file individually.Or, you may discover meaningful tax benefits.Now, let’s move on to the process of adding a domestic partner to a health insurance policy.Adding a Domestic Partner to a Health Insurance PolicyIf your state allows domestic partnerships or civil unions — or if it recognizes all sorts of marriages equally — you’ll be able to add your domestic partner to your health plan.You may do so either:Timing is important, but the process isn’t difficult.

You’ll contact your current health insurance company and provide them with your partner’s information.Where Can I Find Contact Information for my Health Insurance Provider?Check your health insurance card for a toll-free number to call, that’s usually the fastest way to speak to a representative.Your human resources contact at work will also have this information, and you might be able to find it online.What Will the Insurance Company Need to Know About my Partner and Myself?Gather your documents and have your health insurance policy or ID card at hand when you call.They’ll ask you for some information to verify that they’re speaking to an insured.

Then, they’ll to ask about:Regarding your partner, they’ll need:They may ask you to choose a preferred healthcare provider, or they may send some paperwork to get that part done.A Note About Effective DatesRemember, if you add your domestic partner to your health insurance plan during the usual open enrollment period (in the fall), coverage will take effect on January 1 of the following year.If you add your domestic partner to your health insurance policy after a QLE, the effective date will be a few weeks after you make the call.You’ll be able to find the effective date on your partner’s insurance card when it arrives in the mail.What if my Partner has Health Insurance Through Their Employer? Can I Still Add Them to my Policy?If your domestic partner has another health insurance plan through work, they can keep that plan and become “double insured.” Their current plan will become their primary health plan, and your insurance will be called “secondary.”If your domestic partner were to find themselves in a medical emergency, the final out-of-pocket expenses would be very small, because they are doubly insured.And you could also become a beneficiary on their plan and have access to secondary health insurance!Of course, many couples find this cost prohibitive.In other words, it might be very expensive to keep this much health insurance on both partners.We Both Have Health Insurance at Work, What Should We Do?If both partners currently have health insurance through work, and plan on staying employed, be sure to check prices at both organizations.

Partner A may be the primary breadwinner, but Partner B might have more affordable insurance options through work.Remember to compare “apples to apples,” however.Health insurance plans are divided into metal tiers, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.All Bronze plans offer about the same coverage, but there are significant differences between Bronze and Gold plans.If you’d like to know more details, check out our earlier piece on What if my Partner has Medicaid? Can I Add Them to my Policy? provides health insurance to low-income individuals and people with unique needs.

You can add your partner to your health plan, but they will lose access to Medicaid-funded care.Put another way, one cannot be doubly-insured using Medicaid as either a primary or secondary insurer.What if My Domestic Partner has Medicare? Can I Add Them to my Policy?The answer to this question is incredibly complicated, you should speak to both a Medicare representative and your current health insurance company before moving forward with any changes.Know that is a federally-funded health benefit for retired individuals ages 65 and up, certain younger people with disabilities, and individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD, or permanent kidney failure.)Here are some points to consider:In sum, just because you can add your domestic partner to your health insurance policy, doesn’t always mean that you should do so.Move forward thoughtfully, by speaking to your current insurer and a Medicare professional first.Health Insurance and Discrimination PreventionIt’s 2024, and the insurance industry has gone a long way towards ending discrimination.

Just decades ago, many insurers could, and often did, refuse to insure individuals based on sexual preferences, pre-existing conditions, and HIV status.State and federal laws continue to evolve, and many states have introduced legislation that prevents discrimination for sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity and so on.Still, individuals seeking health insurance for domestic partners may still face more subtle roadblocks.If you’re struggling to find the right health insurance plan for yourself and/or your domestic partner, we invite you to try our handy online quoting tool.Our goal is to match consumers with the insurance they need, at prices that make sense.