In an article in today's Hartford Courant, Francis Grandy Taylor writes about a Connecticut emergency room physician, Dr. Alan Couture, who is filing a discrimination claim with the state's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, because his employer, St. Mary's Hospital, is refusing to add his partner to their health care plan.

The physician is an eight year employee of the hospital. Connecticut recognizes civil unions, and health insurance plans regulated by the state are required to give civil partners the same benefits as spouses, according to Taylor.

However, as Taylor points out, St. Mary's insurance plan is self-funded, and the hospital is arguing that providing health care coverage for Dr. Couture's partner would be against the hospital's Catholic principles.

Yet another complexity to add to the urgent problem of health care coverage for Americans. Is a national health care service, ala Great Britain, the answer?
Ed Strong in his Daily Mindbender blog suggests that just maybe it is.