Sierra Hubbard, Sentinel News Editor
On June 26, a new landmark Supreme Court case was decided upon, and history was made. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. It requires that all states must both issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as well as recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states.
The University System of Georgia, as a result of this decision, has recently made the necessary changes to benefits plans and benefits enrollment systems to allow for coverage of all spouses.
Employees of Kennesaw State University who would like to make applicable changes to add a newly eligible spouse to their benefits coverages are now able to do so. This means that any member of KSU faculty or staff who is in a same-sex marriage that was previously unrecognized by the state can now add their partner to their benefits plan.
According to the email sent out by KSU, existing spouses – a couple married June 26th or prior – who are newly eligible for coverage have until September 1 to elect coverage and provide the required documentation. Any employee of the university who experiences a marriage event after June 26th will have the standard 30-day eligibility period to elect changes as a family status change.
