Thirty-four percent of firms offering health benefits offer coverage to opposite-sex domestic partners, similar to the 45% that did so last year. Forty-three percent of firms offering health benefits offer coverage to same-sex domestic partners, similar to the 45% that did so last year.
Why do companies offer domestic partner benefits?
Domestic partner benefits are an easy way to obtain a competitive advantage for talent and to drive recruitment and retention of dedicated employees. ... Offering domestic partner benefits ensures an employer is prepared for changing relationship-recognition laws for same-sex couples across the United States .
Do companies offer domestic partner benefits?
Currently, there are no federal laws which require employers to include domestic partners in their benefits plans. ... Many employers voluntarily have added domestic partner benefits to their plan.
Are domestic partners eligible for health insurance?
Under the Insurance Nondiscrimination Act, all group health care plans and health insurance policies marketed, issued or delivered to a California resident must offer equal coverage for spouses and registered domestic partners , regardless of the location of the employer or the site of the contract or policy.
What states offer domestic partner benefits?
Five states allow for civil unions: Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and New Jersey . California, District of Columbia, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin allow for domestic partnerships while Hawaii allows for a similar relationship known as reciprocal beneficiaries.
How much does it cost to be domestic partners?
* The fee for filing a domestic partnership is $33.00 if both partners are under the age of 62. ** The fee for filing a domestic partnership is $10.00 if either partner is 62 or older.
Who was the first employer to offer domestic partner benefits?
New York's alternative newspaper, the Village Voice , was the first employer in the U.S. to offer domestic partner benefits in 1982.
Is a girlfriend considered a domestic partner?
A domestic partner is a term that refers to an unmarried partner regardless of gender . ... “A domestic partnership is very similar to marriage. It can apply to couples who are not married but live together,” Burns says. “Domestic partnerships provide some legal benefits that married couples enjoy.
What are domestic partners entitled to?
The range of benefits that may be available to domestic partners varies from state to state but often includes health, dental, vision, and life insurance; sick leave; housing rights; and the use of recreational facilities .
Can I add my girlfriend to my health insurance?
Since there is no legal financial obligation between yourself and your girlfriend, she cannot be added to most health insurance policies . ... Even if the law does not recognize common law marriage, you may be able to add your girlfriend as a domestic partner if your health insurer allows.
Are domestic partners responsible for each other debts?
One major change that was not enforced before the new law is that domestic partners are now financially responsible for each other's debts , both during and after the partnership. ... Just as in a marriage, the community property system will apply to parties who choose to dissolve their domestic partnership.
How do I become domestic partner?
- the two must live together;
- the two must agree to be jointly responsible for each other's basic living expenses during the Domestic Partnership;
- neither person may be married or a member of another domestic partnership;
Do domestic partners have to file taxes together?
Registered domestic partners may not file a federal return using a married filing separately or jointly filing status. Registered domestic partners are not married under state law. Therefore, these taxpayers are not married for federal tax purposes.
What percent of Fortune 500 companies provide health benefits to domestic partners?
According to data from the Human Rights Campaign, a whopping 59 percent of Fortune 500, 85 percent of Fortune 100, and 90 percent of Fortune 50 companies now offer equal health insurance benefits to employees with same-sex domestic partners and spouses.
Is a domestic partner a spouse?
Domestic partners, whether the same or opposite sex, live together as a couple but are not formally married . With this relationship, they frequently can qualify for spousal benefits, like health coverage through an employer group plan.
How long do you have to be with someone to be considered a domestic partner?
Mutually responsible (fiscally and legally) for each other. In an intimate, committed relationship of at least six months' duration *
