Karen Hammond, MSN, CRNP, of Alabama Fertility Specialists says of Honda, "Since their Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama policy offers ART benefits, it is extremely troubling that Honda has chosen to solely and specifically exclude same sex partners from ART benefits."
ART includes costly, but effective procedures like in vitro fertilization, intra-uterine insemination and other methods used with women who are having difficulty getting pregnant.
"I was surprised and a little disappointed. I thought that big businesses in the United States were, by and large, recognizing domestic partnerships like this for health care benefits," says Dr. Michael Steinkampf, MD of Alabama Fertility Specialists.
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama’s policy specifically states, "Effective January 1, 2008, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama requests that Blue Cross and Blue Shield exclude domestic partners (same sex partners) from ART benefits including diagnostic services related to fertility/infertility that have a fertility or infertility diagnosis".
"For one of the world's leading automakers to discriminate and deny medical coverage for a disease, based on someone's personal orientation, is downright appalling," says Hammond.