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Same-Sex Parents Continue to Face Health Insurance Challenges


Elk Grove Village, IL—(ENEWSPF)—September 16, 2013. Many studies have proven that regardless of sexual orientation, children benefit from secure and loving relationships with devoted, nurturing adults. Civil marriage for same-sex couples can provide long-term security for their children, but barriers still remain in obtaining private health insurance. According to a study in the October 2013 Pediatrics, “Disparities in Health Insurance Among Children With Same-Sex Parents,” (published online Sept. 16), children with gay or lesbian parents are less likely to have private health insurance.

Using data from the 2008-2010 American Community Survey, researchers studied children 0-17 years of age with same-sex parents, married opposite-sex parents, and unmarried opposite-sex parents, and found that 77.5 percent of children with married opposite-sex parents were covered by private health plans, but only 63.3 percent of children with two fathers and 67.5 percent with two mothers had private health insurance. Children with unmarried opposite-sex parents were also less likely to have private insurance, but significantly more likely to be covered by public health insurance. Disparities in health insurance for children with same-sex parents diminished when children were living in states with legal same-sex marriage, civil unions, or second-parent adoptions.

The authors conclude that this study supports the recent policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which states that if a child has two supportive and capable parents who choose to create a permanent bond through civil marriage, it is in the best interest of their children that legal and social institutions allow them to do so, irrespective of sexual orientation, as a means of guaranteeing all federal and state rights and benefits.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.

Source: www.aap.org

 


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