Insurance for Pets Under FEHBP?

You know it's a rough day at the Office of Personnel Management when officials have to spend their time knocking down stories that the Federal Employee Health Benenfits Program offers coverage for pets.

Let's start at the beginning: Last week, Aetna, an FEHBP participant, sent out an e-mail detailing discounts the company offers on pet insurance. "In these challenging economic times," the message read, "it's good to know you can get some financial protection for unexpected illness and injury to your pets."

That sent Igor Volsky of the Wonk Room blog at the Center for American Progress around the bend. "What's illuminating about the ad," he wrote, "is that while federal employees can buy pet insurance 'in these challenging economic times,' [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] workers are still prohibited from purchasing policies for their partners or spouses by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) -- a federal law which denies federal benefits to legally married same sex couples."

On Friday, OPM fired back, calling the comparison between pet insurance and coverage for same-sex partners of federal employees "grossly inaccurate."

"While Aetna is a participating carrier in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)," OPM said in a statement, the pet insurance product offered by Aetna is not a federal benefit, nor has it been listed as a benefit in any OPM prepared or reviewed materials. Aetna, on its own initiative, offers a variety of discount products to its members, including gym memberships, weight loss programs, eyewear, vitamins, etc. Pet insurance is one of these products.

"Aetna has apologized for using the reference to FEHBP in its communication on this discount program. OPM regrets that Aetna's error is being cited by some as evidence that same-sex domestic partner health insurance benefits for federal employees are not a priority by OPM and the administration. Nothing could be further from the truth."