Richmond Times-Dispatch
February 25, 2005
By Pamela Stallsmith
By one vote, the House of Delegates yesterday agreed to let businesses extend health-insurance coverage beyond spouses and dependent children to others such as siblings, in-laws or domestic partners.
The House voted 49-48 on the bill sponsored by Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, that would let the insurer and employer decide who would be covered under a group policy.
Under the bill, benefits could be extended to the additional categories only if the employer and its insurance carrier agree to do so.