News (USA)

Pet insurance available to federal employees, but still no coverage for same-sex partners

Pet insurance available to federal employees, but still no coverage for same-sex partners
Click the ad to see a full-size image.

Federal employees insured through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program received an email on Thursday from Aetna promoting their new pet insurance plans.

“In these challenging economic times, it’s good to know you can get some financial protection for unexpected illness and injury to your pets,” reports Think Progress.

(Click the ad to the left to view a full-size image.)

The insurance is a handsome perk for those who can afford it, but what’s illuminating about the ad is that while federal employees can buy pet insurance “in these challenging economic times,” LGBT workers are still prohibited from purchasing policies for their partners or spouses by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) — a federal law which denies federal benefits to legally married same sex couples.

President Obama supports repealing DOMA (although the administration is currently defending the policy in court), but hasn’t pressured Congress to repeal the Act.

More at Think Progress.com.

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