Same-Sex Ruling Has Employers Tweaking Benefits

Employers around the country are scrambling to make sure their employee benefit plans comply with the law following the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on same-sex marriage.

The impact of the decision is clear in the 13 states and the District of Columbia where gay marriage is currently legal: Same-sex married couples must be treated the same as other spouses under federal laws governing tax, health care, pensions and other federal benefits.

But employee benefit experts say the effect of the ruling remains murky in the other 37 states, which are not required to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state.

Employers with nationwide operations want to know what happens when a married same-sex couple in New York, for instance, moves to Texas, which does not permit gay marriage.