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.
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Inc.