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ODS Oregon Domestic Partnership Policy

As of February 4, 2008, ODS policies recognize qualified same-sex domestic partnerships as having the same rights and benefits granted to opposite-sex spouses under Oregon law.

What this means for your clients:

ODS has provided the option for equivalent benefits to domestic partnerships as of Feb. 4, 2008, to our groups.
However, the Oregon Insurance Division’s bulletin on the new law has not given guidance to groups specifically as to when they must start providing equivalent benefits.
Groups that have renewed or will renew their policies before April 1, 2008, must decide whether they will renew their policy to include the new equivalent benefits, or whether they interpret the bulletin as allowing their group to wait until their next renewal period.

The Oregon Family Fairness Act will affect groups in the following ways:

Non-ERISA, ASO Groups – Groups must offer the same coverage to registered domestic partners that they do to spouses.
Non-ERISA, Fully Insured Groups – Groups must offer the same coverage to registered domestic partners that they do to spouses.
ERISA, ASO Groups – The Act does not reach these groups, so it is their choice as to how they cover registered domestic partners.
ERISA, Fully Insured Groups – Despite an ERISA exception outlined in the Act, the bulletin disregards the exception and requires groups to offer the same coverage to registered domestic partners that they do to spouses. Contact the Oregon Insurance Division directly at 503-947-7980 with any questions regarding its interpretation of the exception.

If you have any additional questions about ODS’ policy regarding the Oregon Family Fairness Act, please contact your marketing service team.

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