Policy said to affect small number of graduate students.
By: Jeff Milgram
Princeton University is taking New Jersey’s new domestic-partner law to heart.
One day after the state Senate passed the law, and three days before it was signed by Gov. James E. McGreevey, the university announced that its student health plan will cover same-sex partners.
The new policy will affect a "very small number" of graduate students, Janet Finnie, associate director of university health services, said Thursday.
The new policy was put into effect a week ago.
The new policy was indirectly related to the new state law, she said.
"The issue has been raised over many years," Ms. Finnie said. The new policy is consistent with the health coverage offered to university employees, she said.
For several years, the university has offered health benefits to same-sex domestic partners of employees, but not to unmarried heterosexual partners.
The rationale behind that is that same-sex partners do not have the option of marriage, while heterosexual couples do, Ms. Finnie said.
The new policy will probably not affect undergraduates, who live on campus and are not likely to be in any domestic relationship, she said.
Ms. Finnie said support for a change in policy picked up this summer, with an alumni group urging the university to cover same-sex partners.
Health Services made the recommendation to university President Shirley M. Tilghman, who approved it.
"The current administration … is very committed to the well-being of the campus community," Ms. Finnie said.
To be eligible for the new coverage, couples must register their same-sex domestic partner with the university before enrolling in the student health plan. Enrollment extends until Feb. 27 and Ms. Finnie said one student has already expressed an interest.
On Monday, Gov. McGreevey signed legislation making New Jersey the fifth state to grant legal status to same-sex couples, allowing them to form domestic partnerships with some of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
"Today is special, not only for all the lives it will impact in a positive, constructive way, but (for) what it says about us as a decent and compassionate and humane people," Gov. McGreevey said during a ceremony at the State House.
The law takes effect July 11. It gives same-sex couples and unmarried heterosexual couples age 62 and over many of the legal rights of married couples, including hospital visits, making emergency medical decisions, claiming each other as exemptions on state income-tax filings and qualifying for exemptions from the state inheritance tax.
The bill also requires the state to provide dependent health coverage to state employees with same-sex partners, and allows private companies to do the same.
The Domestic Partnership Act won final approval in the Senate last Thursday in a 23-9 vote after a frantic, last-minute push by its Democratic sponsors and the governor.