In case you haven’t heard, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates equal protection under the Fifth Amendment. As a result, millions of same-sex married couples in the 13 states that have legalized gay marriage now have access to the same health care benefits as opposite-sex couples. These states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, in addition to Washington, DC and five federally-recognized Native American tribes. Legally married same sex couples in these states are also now entitled to family health coverage, Social Security survivor benefits, family leave, and more. This ruling is a tremendous achievement for gay right activists. However, individuals in same-sex unions in these states may no longer be eligible for Medicaid coverage or tax credits for private insurance, as their joint income will be considered when determining eligibility. And you guessed it—same sex couples in the 37 states that have not legalized gay marriage are still limited to their state’s regulations regarding family health care benefits. Stay tuned for continued health care reform updates at wordsforgood.com/blog.