Health Care Benefits for Gay Partners

Healthcare costs are an explosive issue in today’s society. Costs are continually on the rise and we all are looking for ways to provide affordable healthcare to everyone. The problem is reaching crisis proportions with about 44 million people not carrying health insurance in the United States. That is 15% of the population, with millions more being underinsured; all facing each day without the security of knowing that, if and when they need it, medical care is available to them. Come 2014, people with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage, and there will also be provisions for other uninsured people (Bernard, 2010). However, what about those in domestic partnerships? Why is it so difficult for them to be covered? They are being added to the pool of people who are uninsured and are driving up healthcare costs. What if these people get sick? Are they going to go seek health care? They may not do so and then become more ill and will eventually have to seek health care. And even if they do seek health care to begin with, will they be able to afford the cost? These individuals will receive treatment, as they cannot be denied that, but then who may get stuck with the bill? The hospital ends up paying for the services, healthcare costs go up, insurance premiums go up, and then those in society that were able to carry insurance may now not even be able to afford their premiums. It is estimated that 18,000 Americans die each year because they are uninsured and lack adequate medical care, according to the Institute of Medicine, which also says that the U.S. spends around $100 billion each year on medical care for the uninsured (Quittner, 2004). The Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S. has done much research on this topic. They calculated the extra costs that many same-sex couples incur over their lifetime and health care costs were one of the biggest contributors (Bernard,...