Same-sex marriage refers to lawful marriage between spouses of the same sex. Same-sex marriage is legal and recognized in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.).

As long as a same-sex couple is married in a jurisdiction with legal authority to authorize the marriage, a health insurance company that offers health coverage to opposite-sex spouses must do the same for same-sex spouses.

The federal Health Insurance Marketplace® also treats married same-sex couples the same as married opposite-sex couples in every state when they apply for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans.

In Minnesota, same-sex marriage has been legal since August 1, 2013, following the passage of legislation that amended the state's marriage laws. This change came prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Consequently, in Minnesota, as in all other U.S. states, same-sex couples have the same rights to marry as opposite-sex couples, and their marriages are recognized for all purposes, including health insurance coverage. Health insurance companies in Minnesota are required to offer the same coverage to same-sex spouses as they do to opposite-sex spouses. Additionally, when applying for health insurance through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace®, same-sex married couples are treated the same as opposite-sex married couples, making them eligible for premium tax credits and lower out-of-pocket costs on private insurance plans, regardless of their state of residence.