Co-worker can't leave job because of Defense of Marriage Act

[Anonymous]

My co-worker is a brilliant educator. I'd love to ask him to join me in a start-up business. He can't because, despite being married for many years, his same-sex marriage is not "legal" under federal law and he needs his current-job health benefits. This real-world example brought home how unfair our current laws are. Just wanted to vent.

[Anonymous]

It is hard to believe and somewhat depressing how backwards we still are in so many ways as a nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My co-worker is a brilliant educator. I'd love to ask him to join me in a start-up business. He can't because, despite being married for many years, his same-sex marriage is not "legal" under federal law and he needs his current-job health benefits. This real-world example brought home how unfair our current laws are. Just wanted to vent.

Well... if he leaves his job he and his spouse can COBRA, right?
And a startup business can get health insurance that includes domestic partners. A medical questionairre is required though. Is that the problem?

[TheManWithAUsername]

Remember how Clinton was the most liberal president ever, the most liberal imaginable until the lunatic socialist Obama came in? I can't decide which of his three most important pieces of legislation was most liberal: DOMA, NAFTA, or welfare deform.

[Anonymous]

So basically your co-worker wants for someone else to pay for his health insurance so that he try to start a business, go fishing, or whatever. As if the healthcare system and economy aren't burdened enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically your co-worker wants for someone else to pay for his health insurance so that he try to start a business, go fishing, or whatever. As if the healthcare system and economy aren't burdened enough.

Agree. Married or not, lots of us have had to worry about affording insurance and make decisions accordingly. I think your concerns are misplaced.

[Anonymous]

OP didn't say her employer is "paying for" the brilliant educator's insurance. He may pay for it himself for all you know. But he needs to be part of an employer sponsored group insurance plan that covers domestic partners.

I've had employer sponsored medical insurance all my life - nobody else "pays for" my insurance. I just enjoy lower premiums (which I pay myself) and better coverage than I could purchase on my own because the insurer is spreading risk over a group.

[Anonymous]

having to cover aids was when insurance rates started to skyrocket.

[Anonymous]

I would love it if pp would site their source.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP didn't say her employer is "paying for" the brilliant educator's insurance. He may pay for it himself for all you know. But he needs to be part of an employer sponsored group insurance plan that covers domestic partners.

I've had employer sponsored medical insurance all my life - nobody else "pays for" my insurance. I just enjoy lower premiums (which I pay myself) and better coverage than I could purchase on my own because the insurer is spreading risk over a group.

Employers subsidize health insurance. This means that the significant other would get a family policy so that he would be included. It would be an additional burden on that business. Someone is going to pay, either through raises or jobs.

You can buy health insurance on your own. I have done this when I was very poor.

I wish that the lobby for moms was stronger. If we want to put additional burdens on business, I'd like to see it encourage working moms to have children. It's very tough on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I've had employer sponsored medical insurance all my life - nobody else "pays for" my insurance. I just enjoy lower premiums (which I pay myself) and better coverage than I could purchase on my own because the insurer is spreading risk over a group.

You've either had jobs with really crappy benefits all your life (because your none of your employers have paid any portion of your health insurance premium) or you're just really ill-informed about the true cost of health insurance and the benefits that you're getting. I've always had employer-sponsored health insurance as well. I've paid anywhere between 0% (nothing out of pocket) to 25% (currently) of the cost of the insurance. The employer pays the rest of the premium (or in the past in some cases, the whole premium). Go check with your benefits people. I bet you'll be surprised at what the whole premium is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So basically your co-worker wants for someone else to pay for his health insurance so that he try to start a business, go fishing, or whatever. As if the healthcare system and economy aren't burdened enough.

So basically according to you most of the DW's on this board are deadbeats because they are on DH's plan. Certainly all the SAHMs and half of the double income families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:having to cover aids was when insurance rates started to skyrocket.

This is bullshit. AIDS does not explain our medical costs. You know it and you are being an idiot to try to imply it.

[Anonymous]

Why is the brilliant professor any different than anybody else, married or not, who participates in an employer sponsored health plan? What makes him more of a leech on society than anybody else?

[Anonymous]

How about all the money that would be saved if Mormons were not covered, or Jews, or Catholics? Left-handed people?