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The AFA Convinces Honda to Stop Discriminating Against Same-Sex Couples

Nearly three months after our initial demand to Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, the auto manufacturing giant has removed discriminatory language from its Insurance Summary Plan against same-sex couples for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) insurance coverage. The AFA became aware of the discrimination when medical professionals at Alabama Fertility Specialists in Birmingham noticed the following wording in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Summary Plan Description:

Effective January 1, 2008, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama requests the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama exclude domestic partners (same sex partners) from ART benefits including diagnostic services related to fertility/infertility that have a fertility or infertility diagnosis.

The AFA requested a phone call or meeting with Honda management to provided an explanation and open a dialogue. Honda ignored the offer and has to this day refused to respond to countless e-mails, phone calls, and letters sent by The AFA. The AFA went forward with its national media blitz and garnered the attention of hundreds of media outlets including The LA Times and Birmingham News. Honda released only this statement to the media:

The plan includes domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples. Our current benefits program does not provide coverage for third-party involvement (such as surrogate motherhood or the use of sperm or egg banks) regardless of whether the covered couple is heterosexual or same-sex.

The issue caught the attention of Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham).
Representative Todd called Honda Human Resources Department and got an immediate explanation.

Shortly after returning to Alabama from the Democratic National Convention, Todd said, “I talked to the folks at Honda before I left for Denver and from the information that I got from them is it appears that they had a “mis-wording” in the earlier language about the coverage. They now stand by their policy that any couple, regardless of gender, will be covered for services - EXCEPT when it involves a third person.” Todd, who’s in a same-sex relationship, says, “Their current coverage is non-discriminatory. They are one of the first Alabama companies to offer domestic partners benefits, of which I am grateful.”

The AFA obtained proof September 8th when it revisited the same BCBS Summary Plan Description, which no longer has the same-sex partner exclusion.

While this is a big win for equal rights for fertility treatment coverage, and while Honda has honored our request to provide equal coverage to all of its employees, in this case equal coverage does not equate to equal family building opportunities, as same-sex couples need third party assistance. Thank you, Honda, for removing discriminatory language from your policy. We continue to invite you and other corporations to discuss these important issues relating to insurance coverage for all who desire to create family.

AFA Communications Director - Brian Armentrout – – 205.425.3544 – 917.324.1545

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The AFA Convinces Honda to Stop Discriminating Against Same-Sex Couples

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