Dive Brief:

• The University of Virginia will allow the same-sex spouses of its faculty and staff to be eligible for health insurance.
• The school announced its decision on Tuesday, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear several appeals of lower federal court rulings striking down same-sex marriage bans, including one in Virginia.
• On Tuesday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered all state agencies, including public colleges and universities, to extend spousal benefits to same-sex partners.

Dive Insight:

Same-sex couples in Virginia were allowed to obtain marriage licenses starting Monday afternoon. The university’s health coverage also extends to same-sex couples married in Virginia or other states, and to their children. As before, the university spousal health insurance coverage applies only when the spouse can’t access affordable coverage through his or her own employer.