Casino offering health care benefits to domestic partners

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2001 | 11:26 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MONTVILLE, Conn. -- The domestic partners of employees at the Mohegan Sun casino have hit the health care jackpot.

The casino plans to offer health care benefits to the domestic partners of its full- and part-time employees starting in April.

The benefit plan from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which includes fully paid medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage, will also cover same-sex couples and dependent children.

"Employees are the core of our success and Mohegan Sun is committed to attracting and retaining the most talented employee population in the region," said Bill Velardo, general manager of Mohegan Sun.

Only six percent of 266 Connecticut employers surveyed recently by Connecticut Human Resource Reports offered domestic partner coverage.

A national survey by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Washington, D.C., reports that the number of employers offering health insurance to domestic partners increased 25 percent last year.

Mohegan Sun officials say they also are working on plans to extend life insurance and long-term disability coverage to domestic partners.

The Mohegan Sun, which opened in 1996, employs nearly 6,000 workers.