I am not a California practitioner, but I represent clients with California operations. I have read varying analyses of California's AB 2208, some of which seem to suggest that AB 2208 will indirectly, if not directly, require all California employers with insured medical plans to offer medical insurance coverage to domestic partners in any instance in which the employer is providing spousal coverage.

Other analyses I've read suggest that AB 2208 does not apply directly to employers and does not require employers to provide health benefits to their employees' domestic partners.

I've also received conflicting assessments from a couple of different insurers operating in California.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

AB 2208 regulates the insurance industry. AB 205 confers spousal-type benefits on registered domestic partners (California Family Code Section 297.5). If benefits are offered to a spouse, they must be offered to a registered domestic partner. A good place to find the text of these bills is at the California Senate Home Page at www.senate.ca.gov. Go to "Legislation" on the left side of the page, and insert the bill number where appropriate on the new page. (sorry, I'm no good with hyperlinks!) Good Luck.

Does AB 2208 and AB 205 apply to all employers offering coverage to spouses or is it based on group with a minimum number of covered employees as well (i.e., groups with more then 50 or 100 employees)?