CalPERS Grants Exception for Previously Married Same-Sex Couples Seeking To Enroll in Health Plan

CalPERS officials say they are allowing a "one-time exception" for beneficiaries married to someone of the same sex to enroll their spouses in the pension fund's health plan. Although the U.S. Supreme Court last month struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, employees who married a member of the same sex in previous years were worried that they would be unable to enroll their spouses in the health plan because of a requirement that newlyweds only have 60 days to sign up family members for health coverage. However, Amy Norris -- CalPERS spokesperson -- said, "Now that DOMA has been struck down, we're going to offer this opportunity" to same-sex married couples until enrollment ends on Dec. 31.

• "CalPERS Will Start Coverage of Gay Marriage Spouses" (Kasler, Sacramento Bee, 7/24).