Offering such benefits will bring state agencies and higher education institutions closer in line to prevailing benefits practices of employers of choice in Virginia and across the nation, and enhance recruiting and retention of the best and the brightest. 66% of the top private employers in Virginia offer at least this level of benefits. Almost 60% of the Fortune 500 companies choose to offer such expanded benefits to their employees. At least 12 Virginia-based Fortune 500 or Fortune 1000 companies offer such benefits including: Altria Group, Capital One, CarMax, Dominion Resources, Gannett, Genworth, MCI Group, MeadWestvaco, Owens & Minor, Philip Morris USA, SprintNextel, AOL, and SLM Corp. (Sallie Mae).

• This modest proposal permits employees to choose to cover an "otherwise qualified adult" at their expense and without cost to taxpayers.

• If offered, health insurance coverage will be available to some adults and children in Virginia who might otherwise be uninsured.

Offering expanded benefits is good for Virginia, good for Virginia taxpayers and good for our families!