Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
November 17, 2000

Insurance credits for domestic partners clear last hurdle

by Anne Krapfl
Same-sex domestic partners of faculty and P&S staff will be treated the same as married or common-law spouses when it comes to health and dental insurance premiums, under a policy approved this week by interim president Richard Seagrave. The policy was endorsed earlier by the Faculty Senate and the Professional and Scientific Council.

The policy permits Iowa State to offer the same insurance credits for domestic partners enrolled in an Iowa State benefits plan as it does for married or common-law partners. It is in effect for the current ISU Plan enrollment period, which ends Dec. 6.

Assistant vice president for human resource services Carla Espinoza said two revised forms have been developed as part of the enrollment process to address concerns raised by the Faculty Senate and P&S Council.

As with other benefit changes, employees must file these forms within 30 days of a change in status in order to modify their insurance plan.

Because federal tax law doesn't treat same-sex partners and married partners the same, Espinoza said domestic partners may want to first study the tax consequences of receiving these (pre-tax) benefits.

In July, the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, gave all regents schools permission to treat same-sex partners the same as married or common-law partners for purposes of paying health insurance premiums.

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Revi sed 11/16/00