After pressure
from the American Civil Liberties Union, Georgia's
commissioner of insurance has agreed to allow Jon Lawson, a
51-year-old gay man, to purchase health insurance
through a state plan designed to help people who are
uninsured. Commissioner John Oxendine initially denied
his application because the plan requires the applicant to
be insured for 18 months before joining the plan.
Lawson was deemed ineligible because he was covered as
a domestic partner through his previous insurance
plan.
According to the
ACLU, Oxendine has been blocking LGBT residents
from receiving public health insurance since the state
supreme court ruled that the city of Atlanta is
allowed to provide domestic-partner benefits to its
employees.
"I'm happy that the insurance commissioner did
the right thing, not only in my case but for others
who may be in the same situation," Lawson said
in a statement. "Anyone who needs health insurance
and meets the state's requirements should not
be denied under any circumstances."
Lawson, who was
insured after breaking up with his partner of six years,
discovered he was eligible for insurance under the state's
Insurance Assignment System. The program is for those
who have insurance but are about to become uninsured.
He applied for the program and provided proof that he
was insured for the required previous 18 months. Several
days later, he received a call from Oxendine's
office and explained that he had been covered as
a domestic partner under his former partner's
plan. The same day, the program's coordinator said he was
ineligible for the program because "the
relationship of domestic partner is not considered a
family relationship under Georgia law," according to the
ACLU.
The ACLU sent a
demand letter on January 9 to Oxendine's office on behalf
of Lawson; the letter detailed his qualifications for
the insurance program. On March 3, Lawson received
notice that he will be insured under the program.
(The Advocate)