Same-sex marriage refers to lawful marriage between spouses of the same sex. Same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.).
As long as a same-sex couple is married in a jurisdiction with legal authority to authorize the marriage, a health insurance company that offers health coverage to opposite-sex spouses must do the same for same-sex spouses.
The federal Health Insurance Marketplace® also treats married same-sex couples the same as married opposite-sex couples in every state when they apply for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans.
In Louisiana (LA), same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in accordance with federal law. This follows the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which ruled that states must license and recognize marriages between two people of the same sex. Consequently, health insurance companies in Louisiana that offer coverage to opposite-sex spouses are required to provide the same coverage to same-sex spouses. This mandate ensures equality in health insurance benefits for all married couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Additionally, the federal Health Insurance Marketplace® applies the same rules to married same-sex couples as it does to married opposite-sex couples in every state, including Louisiana, when they apply for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans.