U-M to offer benefits to same-sex partners

June 21, 2007, Detroit Free Press

BY KRISTEN JORDAN SHAMUS

FREE PRESS EDUCATION WRITER

The University of Michigan has created guidelines that could enable it to offer health care and other benefits to same-sex domestic partners of employees, despite a court ruling that forced it to stop explicitly offering them.

Spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said the policy "is consistent with efforts to promote a healthy workforce and a welcoming and inclusive environment."

The state Court of Appeals held in February that public employers are prohibited from providing health care and other benefits to employees' same-sex domestic partners.

U-M's new policy, announced Monday, takes effect Jan. 1 and offers benefits to "other qualified adults" provided:

• The employee and the adult have lived together for at least 6 months and have a joint checking, savings or credit account.

• The employee and the other adult have durable power of attorney for health care or for financial management.

• The other adult has been designated as the primary beneficiary for the employee's life insurance contract, will or retirement contract or pension plan.

• The employee and the other adult cannot legally marry in Michigan and are not legally married to anyone else in the state.

Contact KRISTEN JORDAN SHAMUS at 313-222-5997 or kshamus@freepress.com.

Copyright © 2007 Detroit Free Press Inc.