Domestic Partnerships Give Freelancers a Path to Health Coverage

By Daniel Okafor

The U.S. has 72 million independent workers, and FlexJobs expects that number to reach 86.5 million next year.

Fast Company reported that health insurance, not finding money, was the biggest obstacle for Madelyn Roman, 31, of New York City, when she considered freelancing. She solved it through her fiancé without marrying him.

Fast Company described domestic partnerships as once a common method for same-sex couples to gain rights long denied to them and associated with traditional marriage, including shared health care and inheritance. It said couples of all sexual orientations now use them as a precursor or alternative to marriage.

Potential U.S. benefits include access to a partner’s employee health care, hospital visitation rights and veteran benefits, according to Fast Company. For freelancers, that access can turn a partner’s job into a bridge to independent work.

“As a healthcare professional myself, I’ve always taken advantage of my insurance plan,” Roman said. “I need it for both my physical and mental health care services, which I rely on. Life is too unpredictable to go without coverage.”

“Now I have so much freedom to do what I want to do and to work how I want to work,” she added.

Why are younger freelancers choosing domestic partnerships?

The appeal combines coverage with lower relationship costs, according to Fast Company. The Knot puts the average U.S. wedding at $34,000 in 2025. Average cost per guest rose to $292 from $214 in 2019. Fast Company said domestic partnerships rarely cost more than $50.

Fast Company reported that Gabrielle, 31, and her partner of several years were not ready to marry when a coworker suggested a domestic partnership. The decision coincided with an advertising job offer that let her freelance in New York City.

“This job opportunity came up and the timing kind of aligned perfectly with taking this next step in our relationship,” Gabrielle said. “I would’ve done it job offer or no job offer, but it felt like a little nod from the universe that I was on the right path.”

She later gave a practical test: “If one partner has a stable, full-time job and the other wants to take a risk, go for it.”

The New York Times reported these Manhattan City Clerk’s Office registrations:

• 2019: 3,686 millennials and 460 Gen Zers, out of 6,004 total.
• Five years later: 4,106 millennials and 1,774 Gen Zers, out of 6,910 total.

A 2024 Upwork study found that 53% of Gen Z work as full-time freelancers. That makes the coverage mechanism relevant to a large and expanding independent workforce.

Who qualifies for a domestic partnership?

Fast Company said there is no nationwide U.S. law; state and local officials control availability and rights. Domestic partnerships are available in California, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New York, Ohio and Oregon.

Typical requirements include:

• Both people are at least 18 years old.
• They live together.
• They are not related in a way that would bar marriage.
• Neither is already married or in another domestic partnership.

The Los Angeles Times reported that West Hollywood, California, approved domestic partnerships for polyamorous couples on Nov. 3. Local rules still determine eligibility and rights.

Fast Company reported that Brooke, whose last name it withheld for privacy, had started freelancing while covered through her parents. She was nearing the age limit for their coverage and had multiple high-risk health conditions. Brooke and her partner were not ready to marry, but she could not risk a gap in care.

“We both acknowledged my desperate need for healthcare and are in a committed, loving relationship, so a domestic partnership felt like the best option for us,” Brooke said.

How do couples obtain one?

The exact steps vary by jurisdiction. Fast Company said applicants typically complete personal questions online and schedule an appointment at a local courthouse. Questions may include birthplace and residence. State or city websites should explain availability and procedure.

“We filled out an application online, then just brought our identification to the courthouse and they gave us a certificate of domestic partnership. You could literally get one in five minutes,” Gabrielle said.

“When our number was called, we simply walked up to the window, provided our proof and confirmation number, and paid the small fee. Simple as that. We were then handed an official paper that proves we are domestic partners,” Roman said.

Domestic-partnership registration often occurs in the same area as courthouse marriages, Roman recalled. Some couples wore sweatpants; others dressed up with a photographer in tow. “Slightly crumpled paper hearts lined the walls, but it was charming,” she said.

Fast Company reported that the women then registered on their partners’ employee health insurance and pursued freelancing. The critical check comes earlier: the partner’s employer must allow domestic partners to join its plan. A certificate cannot secure coverage if the employer excludes non-spouses.

What federal and tax limits apply?

Fast Company also flagged two limits. Domestic partnerships do not offer the same federal benefits as marriage and do not permit couples to file joint taxes.

Fast Company said all three women emphasized how grateful they were for the arrangement.

Roman said: “It allows me freedom to make income without having to tie it to healthcare. The job change has been both liberating and great for my mental health. I’m lucky to have such a supportive partner, and to live in a city that provides this option.”

Brooke said she was grateful for the option because it gave her access to medication.

For Roman, Gabrielle and Brooke, domestic partnership converted a relationship into a workable route for managing coverage during independent work. Its durability will depend on two conditions outside the couple’s control: the employer’s domestic-partner rules and local eligibility.