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 Washington state, same-sex marriage is legal and recognized, in line with federal law and the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which legalized same-sex marriage across all U.S. states. Health insurance companies in Washington are required to offer the same coverage to same-sex spouses as they do to opposite-sex spouses. This means that if a same-sex couple is legally married, regardless of where the marriage took place, they are entitled to the same health insurance benefits. Additionally, the federal Health Insurance Marketplace® must treat married same-sex couples the same as married opposite-sex couples for purposes of premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans. This ensures that same-sex married couples have equal access to health insurance benefits.