We spent the past four days doing...well, nothing. Corey and his moms came over on Thursday and other than that, we did nothing all weekend. OK, there was little studying and a lot of sleeping & watching TV, but I was thankful to have a low-key holiday.
Larry & I also had another thing to be thankful for this month. Both of our companies announced domestic partner insurance benefits for 2009. I know this might slip under the radar for many of you, but this is HUGE for us. For the first time in our lives, if either of us became unemployed, we don't have to scramble to find a job just for medical coverage.
I know there is COBRA but do you realize, this also allows one of us to pursue any independent career and not worry about trying to afford individual insurance. We've always been tied to jobs because of medical benefits. Hell, I stayed at my last miserable company while I searched for job primarily for the medical coverage.
In the late 90's, I worked for an grocery association that had way too much money. The CFO wanted Lasik eye surgery and quickly distributed a health care memo allowing for the entire process to be covered under insurance. Since his wife wanted it as well, dependents were also included. I quickly went to HR to try putting Larry on my plan since he wanted the surgery. The company said it couldn't afford to add partnerships because then anyone who lived together for more than a few years could take advantage of policy and break them.
Of the 212 employees, only 2 of us qualified under the policy. That same year, one guy in the exhibit department got married, his new wife had the surgery 6 weeks later and then divorced him within a year. Phew...I could see the tight constraints needed to protect reckless spending.
Larry & I have spent much of our life together creating protective documentation. We have living wills so that Larry can pull the plug on me AND decide where I'm buried instead of that rite going to my parents. I can inherit his retirement instead of some cousin in Colorado that I've never met. And legal paperwork allows me to enter his hospital room. Right or wrong, it's just something you get used to.
But new doors have been opened with partner coverage. I actually could become a consultant if I wished. I'm not certain that's my path, but it's nice to have options, isn't it?
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!
Labels: Larry
