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Over a Lifetime, Being a Gay Couple Can Cost $470K Extra

Detailed analysis takes health insurance, taxes, other benefits into account

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 3, 2009 5:10 AM CDT
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(Newser) – An exhaustive analysis of the lifetime costs a committed gay couple faces compared to those of a heterosexual marriage finds that, in the worst case, the gay couple pays out nearly $470,000 extra. The study by the New York Times assumed the couples were together until one partner died, were college-educated and raised children. Some variables:

  • Health insurance: Nearly half—$212,000—of the worst-case price tag comes here, in that one partner isn’t covered by the other’s insurance, and had to buy coverage.
  • Estate taxes: Where heterosexual married couples can transfer assets without paying these taxes, same-sex couples, even married ones, get stuck with hefty bills.
  • Childbearing: Beside the costs of insemination, adoption or surrogacy, many gay couples choose to move to a state that allows the second partner to adopt the child.
  • Income tax: One area where gay couples benefit, because of the so-called marriage penalty. In the analysis’ worst case, the gay couple paid $15,000 less in taxes; in the best case, $112,000.

Star Trek legend George Takei with husband Brad Altman.
Star Trek legend George Takei with husband Brad Altman.   (AP Photo)
A gay California couple holds their son.
A gay California couple holds their son.   (AP Photo)
San Francisco's Castro District.
San Francisco's Castro District.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
MarkFL
Oct 5, 2009 1:32 AM CDT
Why does the government give a shit? Just give equal benefits to everyone. Marriage benefits are like taxing single people. It is not their fault that they are too ugly to get married.
fancygapva
Oct 4, 2009 5:51 AM CDT
I thought so.
Snarfeh
Oct 4, 2009 4:02 AM CDT
Yes, indeed, they are, fgv. There are anti-homosexual people who claim the concept of husband & husband or wife & wife is confusing, but in truth, those people are simply confused, period. Another poster at another article thought whichever one had the "label" husband was the butch one, but I do not think that poster was being facetious; I think he really just didn't know the title husband is not related to how each man identifies regarding gender. Most likely, they both identify as male and as homosexual since gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing. As for the husband title, if Takei is talking about his husband, it should be obvious he is referring to Altman and vice versa. If someone else says to Takei "your husband..." it is still obvious the speaker is referring to Altman. The caption for the picture with this article could as easily have been written "Brad Altman with husband and Star Trek legend George Takei." Since Takei is the famous one, Altman is usually referenced as his husband instead of the other way around. Some people may expect one of them to be referred to as a wife because they think homosexuals are role playing their relationships, but the fact is, both are male, so both would be referred to as husband.

 
health insurance • income tax • Social Security • estate tax • heterosexual couples • cost-benefit analysis • same-sex couples • marriage penalty

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