The state of Kansas is changing its position on state health insurance benefits for same-sex spouses of state employees. Previously, members of Governor Sam Brownback’s administration had declined to change state policies, saying they were still studying the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage.
Sara Belfry is a spokesperson with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which manages state employee health insurance.
“After legal review of the Supreme Court decision we have started accepting applications for same-sex spouses of state employees to be eligible for the state employee health plan,” says Belfry.
Belfry says there’s a special one-month open enrollment period for same-sex spouses to apply for health benefits. She says state officials are still studying changes in other areas, such as Medicaid health care benefits.