A new study from the University of Minnesota found that New York’s Marriage Equality Act led to significant increases in employer-sponsored health insurance, and reductions in state-funded Medicaid assistance for adults in same-sex relationships.
The study conducted by Gilbert Gonzales, M.H.A., Ph.D. candidate from the School of Public Health and research assistant at SHADAC, was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on Friday.
“This study takes advantage of data from New York, the largest state to legalize gay marriage without repeal, to document changes in health insurance coverage for adults in same-sex relationships compared to adults in opposite-sex relationships after the implementation of the New York Marriage Equality Act,” said Gonzales.
When states recognize same-sex marriage, some workplaces are required to offer employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) to married same-sex couples. Research found laws establishing domestic partnerships for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations increased health insurance coverage for lesbian women.
“Many arguments for same-sex marriage emphasize equal and fair treatment for LGBT people under the law, but there are important opportunities for same-sex marriage to promote LGBT health, including extended access to employer health benefits,” said Gonzales. “This study adds to the growing body of research that same-sex marriage may be beneficial for LGBT health.”
The findings suggest that legalizing gay marriages may actually decrease the number of adults in same-sex marriages on Medicaid, a health care program for low-income families. Some same-sex couples may no longer be eligible for Medicaid after they get married.
“It may be surprising to some people, however, this finding was expected according to a 2004 report by the Congressional Budget Office,” said Gonzales. “The state counts a spouse’s financial resources for determining eligibility for public assistance, so if the couple makes too much combined income, they may no longer qualify for Medicaid.”
The US Supreme Court’s recent decision to legalize same-sex marriage across the nation may help more LGBT workers add a spouse to employer health plans.
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