Fists Full of DOMA Fury

[judecorp]

I am so effing pissed right now. It's a good thing it's Saturday because I could seriously strangle an HR person right now. (No offense to anyone working in HR.)

When we got all of the benefits information for my new job, we decided to compare the health plans with Jen's job. We thought we hit the jackpot! The coverage was good - REALLY good (one of the perks of working in the hospital system, I guess). And about $60/paycheck cheaper than Jen's. So of course I filled out all of the forms to sign us up, turned them in, and got a note so we could cancel Jen's insurance. Great? Not.

The new coverage starts June 1st, which is umm, Monday. I get a notice in the mail TODAY "verifying" my payroll deductions for benefits.

Instead of the "Employee + Family" health plan for $125 pre-tax/paycheck and the "Employee + Family" eye insurance plan for $16 pre-tax/paycheck, I am signed up for:

1. "Employee + Child" health plan for $81 pre-tax/paycheck PLUS "Non-Qualifying Dependent" health plan for $89 post-tax/paycheck
2. "Employee + Child" eye plan for $11 pre-tax/paycheck PLUS "Non-Qualifying Dependent" eye plan for $9 post-tax/paycheck

I am furious. FURIOUS. On so many levels.

1. Is this NOT something they could have mentioned ON THE SIGN UP FORMS?
2. Is this NOT something they could have mentioned IN THE BENEFITS PRESENTATION?
3. Is this NOT something they could have mentioned WHEN I TURNED MY FORMS IN?
4. The notice I received TODAY (05-30) which is dated 05-26 says that if I need to make changes, I can do them BEFORE 05-25.

EFF YOU to the benefits department for this oversight, and EFF YOU for sending something dated AFTER the "change date" and the biggest EFF YOU OF ALL to the effing Defense of Marriage Act for screwing my LEGALLY MARRIED family out of all of this money! That is *(&#(*^$ highway robbery and it is NOT right and it is NOT Constitutional and honestly? I am so angry right now that I can see why some people say they won't be friends with anyone who votes against marriage equality.

Comments

[sacharine.livejournal.com]

I am seriously saddened and outraged on your behalf, Jude. I'm having a hard time believing that they can legally pull that off, considering even a 'Domestic partnership' or whatever would be recognized.
I hope that you are able to tear HR or the insurance company a new one and get it corrected quickly.

[artsweet.livejournal.com]

But... but... you live in Mass? Shouldn't your marriage count there? Fucking DOMA is right...

In NY we get the same rate as Pili's legally married compatriots but there is a line on her paystub for the value of what her employer is paying for my health insurance - it counts as income (but doesn't for heteros). I could understand it if they did that for IRS purposes, but not giving you the married rate... that I think they just screwed up.

[yip95.livejournal.com]

yeah, we called it the Queer Tax, when we were paying it through my previous job. It sucks rocks.

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

You are residing, married, employed, and insured in Massachusetts. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to discriminate the way they seem to be trying to. Call HR first thing monday, and if they don't jump to sort it out immediately, call the state Attorney General's office.

[rexlezard.livejournal.com]

Jude- any update?

In fact, something similar is in effect at my ex's place of employment - the insurance company was based in Illinois, which makes it all Ok and legal. BULLSHIT!!!

[jeffholton.livejournal.com]

I'm so upset about this for you.

The key insult to me is waiting to send the notice until after the deadline. Nice. Ugh.

I was gonna say something funny about offering to perform medical work on you for free, but maybe you're not in the mood right now...

[sassywoman.livejournal.com]

I'm pissed for you. :(

[redwink.livejournal.com]

I hope that when you bring this to their attention on Monday, they fall all over themselves in an attempt to appologize for their error, and that they fix it right away.

[violane.livejournal.com]

That is f-ing infuriating. OMG I can't stand it!! I can't believe you're such a big-hearted person that you would struggle with the decision about whether to be friends with someone who votes against marriage equality. I have trouble with it myself!!

[posthaste.livejournal.com]

i am LIVID after reading this.

[jadefu.livejournal.com]

I have MULTIPLE elected official's phone numbers we can call about this. Your marriage is legal in MA, period. No ifs, ands, or buts. Plus, your employer doesn't want the press to hear about them breaking the law, do they? A couple phone calls and they'll be all over the local, and national news. Keep me posted and I'll jump into action.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I do not think this is legal, or fair either. I would pursue it.

[ladyleo.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[the-schmoopy.livejournal.com]

This happened to Lisa and me, except my paystubs stated that she was, indeed, a qualified domestic partner. But then we get to the doctor's office and guess what...they call the insurance folks to verify things, and Lisa's not covered. Fortunately my HR department and my company's insurance broker rushed, jumped, apologized like hell, and managed to fix it. So I have hope that you'll be in the same boat once you talk to your HR folks on Monday. Good luck, and we're thinking of you and the family!
(PS: Having hope does NOT excuse the stinking pile of dung that is DOMA, though. Grrr.)

[msredkitty.livejournal.com]

what the hell? this is not right.

[amyura.livejournal.com]

Well, it's obviously morally wrong, as we know, but I really have to agree with others that it's probably illegal too, under MA law.

Don't get me started on DOMA. Every time people on the right go on and on about how "liberal" Clinton was I want to scream. What a fucking crock.

[yip95.livejournal.com]

i agree that your marriage should count as "family" for any company in MA. unless you were working for the feds...They should f'ing fix it.

[somerandomchic.livejournal.com]

"The notice I received TODAY (05-30) which is dated 05-26 says that if I need to make changes, I can do them BEFORE 05-25."

Even if the rest of this crapola is legal in Mass, which I doubt, this part has to be against somebodies rules. You don't date something AFTER tthe change date, because then the employee can just point to that and say UH NOPE. They may be charging you for the extra federal taxes they have to take out because of DOMA.

[kat-chan.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry for the situation you find yourself in. That's not much I can add that hasn't already been said, though. I just am hopeful that all of this will work out in the end.

[lisamj.livejournal.com]

This sounds like they made a mistake, I am pretty sure it isn't legal to do that when you are legally married in your state. I hope it works out for you.

[(Anonymous)]

You may be in for a further nasty surprise. If your employer makes a contribution toward your "non-qualifying" dependent's insurance premiums, the federal tax code requires that the value of their contribution be treated as imputed income. So, not only do you not get the pre-tax rate on the portion you pay, but you also have to pay extra taxes on the portion your employer pays. -Kris