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Ohio county expands benefits for gay couples' kids

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The Associated Press 6:41 AM Wednesday, February 15, 2012

CLEVELAND — Ohio's largest county has decided to expand health care benefit access for gay county employees to include their partners' children.

The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland (http://bit.ly/wS993W ) reports the Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County Council voted 6-4 to approve the change Tuesday.

The county doesn't give the same benefits to the children of unmarried heterosexual couples. Council members noted that heterosexual couples could wed to get benefits for their children, but gay couples didn't have that option.

County workers' children had been covered under the insurance regardless of whether the parent is married. The change allows that coverage for children of gay county workers' partners.

Some council members were concerned about the cost. The newspaper says the family insurance plans are expected to cost an estimated $298,000.

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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com

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February 15, 2012 11:36 AM EST

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