Thursday, August 28, 2008

Social Policy Meets Budget, Health Care Debate in Nevada

Categories: Nevada

Should state governments extend health insurance benefits to unmarried domestic partners, gay or straight, of state employees? That's a debate being held in Nevada, where a legislative committee has voted to extend health insurance benefits in the self-funded plan to domestic partners.

Its eventual passage is in doubt, given the current fiscal condition of the state.

The push for these benefits could be an opportunity for reforming the benefit plans of state employees, in Nevada and elsewhere. Expand the number of eligible people but move the system towards one of defined contributions rather than defined benefits.