Connecticut physical therapist files complaint against Tennessee headquartered Brookdale Senior Living [updated]
A Connecticut physical therapist has filed a sex discrimination complaint against Brookdale Senior Living after being denied health benefits for her wife. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, Brookdale Senior Living owns and operates more than 550 senior living and retirement communities across the United States.
Kerry Considine has worked at Brookdale Senior Living in Hartford, Connecticut since October 2012. In November 2013, Considine married her partner Renee and shortly after their wedding, asked Brookdale’s human resources department to add Renee to her health plan and was informed that Brookdale does not offer health insurance coverage to same-sex spouses.
The denial significantly affects Kerry and Renee’s lives. Renee currently has inadequate coverage through her student health plan and has had to pay for medical expenses out-of-pocket. She anticipates that after graduation, she may have to take a part-time guidance counseling job, without health insurance benefits, in order to get a foot in the door of the profession. The couple is also considering having a baby and worry about coverage for prenatal care for Renee.
“I work for a company that promotes health, wellness and caring for people,” Considine said. “To deny me equality and health care for my family has been very challenging for me.”
According to the Associated Press, Julie Davis, a Brookdale spokeswoman, replied to a request for the company’s policy with a written statement saying it would not comment on the case.
According to the Brookdale Senior Living website, "you can expect us to be a trusted partner by listening and understanding your needs, discussing potential solutions and options, mutually determining the right thing to do and working with you to take action together." Hopefully, they will do the right thing in this case.
Click here to visit the GLAD, Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defender's, case site for updates.