Seems domestic partners heard that Aetna was offering pet insurance and wanted to know why FEHBP didn't cover domestic partners. Now the FEHBP has had to clear up what happened.
Did learn one thing that Obama supports the FEHBP offering gay and lesbian domestic partners health insurance. Why not all domestic partners? Why single out a specific group for preferential treatment?
OPM Says FEHBP Does Not Cover Pets
The Office of Personnel Management on Oct. 15 issued a statement emphasizing that the federal government does not offer pet insurance to federal employees as part of its Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.
The issue was raised by groups who wanted to know why federal pets were allegedly eligible for coverage while the federal government does not provide health insurance benefits to federal employees’ domestic partners, OPM said.
Aetna, a participating carrier in FEHBP, does offer pet insurance, but it is not part of the range of services provided through FEHBP, OPM said. Aetna, on its own initiative, offers a variety of discount products to its members, including gym memberships, weight loss programs, eyewear and pet insurance.
“Aetna has apologized for using the reference to FEHBP in its communication on this discount program,” OPM said. “OPM regrets that Aetna’s error is being cited by some as evidence that same-sex domestic partner health insurance benefits for federal employees are not a priority by OPM.”
The statement noted that President Obama has supported the granting or equal rights and benefits to gay and lesbian federal employees.
Source: Federal Daily
Raw Story 
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment