© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Missouri benefits expanded to same-sex spouses

epSos .de
/
Flickr

  Missouri's health care and retirement plans are expanding coverage to same-sex spouses following a recent court ruling.

The Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan says it will enroll same-sex spouses of state employees and retirees who have valid marriage licenses from other states.

The Missouri State Employees' Retirement System says it will offer survivor benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

Those decisions come after a Jackson County Circuit judge ruled last week that Missouri must recognize same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere — even though the Missouri Constitution forbids gay marriage.

Attorney General Chris Koster decided not to appeal.

The state health care plan covers 96,500 people, including state employees and retirees and their spouses and children. The retirement plan covers 41,000 retirees and more than 50,000 current employees.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
Related Content