Blue Alert – Blue Cross, BCN reviewing effect of Supreme Court Same-Gender Marriage Decision on Their Current Policies

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are reviewing their policies on domestic-partner coverage as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on same-gender marriages delivered on June 26, 2015. The court ruling announced that states must issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples and recognize same-gender marriages performed in other states.

If you receive questions from groups about this ruling’s effect on domestic-partner coverage, please tell them that we are assessing its effect and will let them know soon about any changes.

Blue Cross and BCN already cover legally married, same-gender spouses under individual coverage and allow groups the option of covering same-gender spouses.

Use the following information to help answer questions you may receive from groups on same-gender marriage and health care coverage:

  * Employer group products:
     Beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services required that health plans provide customer groups with the option of offering same-gender marriage coverage to their employees. Blue Cross and BCN:

        -Began offering this option to groups on Aug. 1, 2014, ahead of the CMS requirement
        -Have a process in place so that customer groups can elect to enroll same-gender couples

   * Individual coverage obtained on the Health Insurance Marketplace:
      In August 2014, Blue Cross and BCN began processing applications received through the Marketplace from same-gender married couples for Marketplace plans. CMS required health plans to accept applications from legally married,  same-gender couples for individual Marketplace plans by Jan. 1, 2015.

    Off-Marketplace individual products:
    Blue Cross and BCN already enroll same-gender married couples in our off-Marketplace individual products. Legally married, same-gender couples may submit an application for enrollment in an off-Marketplace product online at      bcbsm.com.

Please refer to the Same-gender marriage coverage FAQ for more information. We’ll release additional information in the future.

Questions? Contact your Blues sales representative or managing agent.

The information in this document is based on preliminary review of the national health care reform legislation and is not intended to impart legal advice. The federal government continues to issue guidance on how the provisions of national health reform should be interpreted and applied. The impact of these reforms on individual situations may vary. This overview is intended as an educational tool only and does not replace a more rigorous review of the law’s applicability to individual circumstances and attendant legal counsel and should not be relied upon as legal or compliance advice. As required by U.S. Treasury regulations, we also inform you that any tax information contained in this communication is not intended to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer to avoid penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.