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Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Carolina’s largest insurer has cancelled the family insurance policies of 20 same-sex couples in the state because of standard language in the insurer’s individual policies that define “spouse” as “opposite sex.” State Insurance Departments spokeswoman, Kelly Hall told the Fayette Observer that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina were legally bound to invalidate the policies.

Although couples will just face the inconvenience of having to purchase two policies instead of one, it underscores the indignation and discrimination that same-sex couples have to experience in non-equality states such as North Carolina.

BCBS is offering gay couples individual plans until the restrictive contract language is removed. But the good news is that some of the couples who had to switch to individual policies are paying less than they did with a family plan.

Right now, the only other insurer selling subsidized coverage on North Carolina’s federally run insurance marketplace is Coventry Health, which doesn’t bar same-sex couples from buying a family policy.

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There is hope that someday soon the state of North Carolina will grant LGBT residents the dignity of having the right to marry the person they choose. Until then, LGBT couples living in North Carolina (and most other states) remain without any legal protections whatsoever – unless they go to the effort and expense of getting specific legal documents, i.e., living will and medical power of attorney (to empower a partner to make medical decisions and have hospital visitation rights), last will and testaments and/or living trust (to leave property to a partner) and other supporting documents that empower a partner to make decisions about finances, burial and cremation and many other rights denied to same-sex partners who live in non-marriage equality states.

For the most part, couples who can afford these documents will get them. Many LGBT couples are struggling financially because of the economic downturn. For them, Rainbow Law’s state-specific will and trust packages provide an affordable alternative – and their free advance directives are available to any LGBT person who asks.

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You can give Rainbow Law’s legal document preparation service a risk-free try by ordering state-specific advance directives (living wills, medical & financial powers of attorney with hospital visitation & more). Payment can be made via a small donation or you can get them for free in exchange for a Tweet or Facebook post!

Just double click on the rainbow banner:

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Carrie Stone