Love isn't the only reason people decide to exchange vows, and a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that in just the past year 7 percent of adults in the US married for health insurance. These weren't fake relationships, rather most were couples that ultimately chose marriage when they may not have otherwise. Even if both individuals are working it's likely that for one reason or another — usually cost — one person's insurance is more appealing than the other.
ABC News gives the example of a couple that marries several months before schedule so that the groom could have his teeth fixed. His employer didn't offer dental insurance and his teeth needed extensive (and expensive) surgery. Another couple lived together for 30 years and finally decided to get married because the self-employed bride was paying many times more for insurance than she would if covered by her new husband's plan.
And isn't it interesting that this story was published on the same day as one criticizing the quality of health care in the US? On average, we're spending twice as much per person as most other industrialized countries, yet 75 million people are without adequate insurance and the quality of care here is hardly up to par.
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I have insurance through my employer, with which I am happy. But my bf's company has a "partner" policy. So you don't need to be married to be under your partner's policy, just prove you reside in the same home. I love his company and I think this is a very cool benefit, especially for same-sex couples