State Farm Insurance, that massive US company with over 68,000 employees announced on Friday it will begin offering health care and other benefits to legally recognized same-sex partners of its employees, a response to an Illinois law that will soon let gay and lesbian couples enter into civil unions.
The eligibility changes for the Bloomington-based insurer’s group health and welfare plans affect all employees, retirees, agents and agent staff. They would be able to enroll a "legally recognized" same-sex spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner in benefits for the first time, said State Farm spokesman Phil Supple.
He said "legally recognized relationship" is defined as: same-sex marriage, which is allowed in some states; same-sex or opposite-sex civil unions; domestic partnerships; or a substantially similar legal relationship.
State Farm has more than 68,000 employees,
