What do insurance companies consider a domestic partner and the legality of insuring a domestic partner?

Answer 1

Insurance companies are not prevented from offering policies covering domestic partners, even in states where domestic partnerships, civil unions and same-sex marriages are prohibited. Each insurance company decides on its own criteria for what constitutes a domestic partner, except in states where domestic partnership coverage is mandated by state law, in which case state law prevails. Although there is some variation, these are typical criteria for domestic partnership:

• Must live together.
• Neither one can be married, in a civil union, or in a domestic partnership with someone else.
• Neither can be an underage minor.
• Partners cannot be related to each other in a way that would make the unable to marry each other (e.g., affinity, cousins, close blood relation).
• Sometimes it is required that domestic partners be of the same sex.
• Sometimes it is required that a domestic partnership be registered with a state or local government, other times all that is required is a notarized affidavit.
• Sometimes it is required that domestic partners share common finances or show proof of financial interdependence.