Following a court ruling last week, the state of North Carolina has begun recognizing same-sex marriages – and as a consequence, state employees (including UNC employees) will now be able to enroll same-sex spouses in the State Health Plan.

UNC Chancellor Carol Folt made that announcement Tuesday along with Felicia Washington, the Vice Chancellor for Workforce Strategy, Equity, and Engagement.

Their statement is below.

Dear Carolina Community,

On Friday, Judge Max Cogburn, Jr., a United States District Court Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, entered an order ruling that North Carolina’s law prohibiting same-sex marriages is unconstitutional as a matter of law. This is, indeed, a historic ruling in our state.

We are pleased to share with you that earlier today, the State Health Plan and NCFlex informed us that employees can immediately begin to enroll same-sex spouses. Coverage can become effective as early as November 1, 2014, for same-sex marriages performed prior to October 13, 2014. This applies to marriages performed in North Carolina, as well as same-sex marriages lawfully solemnized outside of North Carolina. Same-sex marriages performed after this date would be treated as qualifying events, just as with opposite-sex marriages.

To view the State Health Plan’s official announcement regarding coverage, click here.

Instructions to complete the enrollment of a same-sex spouse are available at http://hr.unc.edu/?p=20974.

We will continue to communicate any important updates relating to this late-breaking news. Likewise, we will inform you of any instructions we receive from the Office of State Human Resources, the State Health Plan and NCFlex related to any policy changes…

Sincerely,

Carol L. Folt, Chancellor
Felicia A. Washington, Vice Chancellor for Workforce Strategy, Equity,
and Engagement

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