KINGSTON- The Ulster County Legislature has unanimously approved a policy extending county employee health benefits to domestic partners.
The legislature approved a policy that will cover domestic partners of active county employees and, beginning January 1, 2027, will also extend retiree health benefits to domestic partners of employees who retire from county service on or after that date.
The action builds on the county’s Domestic Partnership Law, unanimously approved in 2023. Sponsored by Legislature Chair Peter Criswell, the law established a Domestic Partnership Registry through the Ulster County Clerk’s Office and provided domestic partners with access to certain next-of-kin benefits and other privileges available under state law.
“As we saw the success of the Domestic Partnership Registry over the last three years, we knew it was time to expand the rights of domestic partners in Ulster County,” Criswell said.
County Executive Jen Metzger said extending health coverage will bring county policy in line with benefits available to domestic partners of New York state employees.
“People in committed partnerships should have the same access as married spouses to the care they need,” Metzger said.
In its news release, Ulster County officials did not disclose the cost of the program.
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