When Mary O’Donnell leaves for her job with the city of Madison, her partner Pam Mache can still stay home to care for one of their children who’s sick.
This little saving grace springs from two sources – Mache’s flexible schedule as a small business owner and O’Donnell’s city health insurance, which puts same-sex partners on a similar footing with married couples. The coverage that O’Donnell said she receives for Mache, her partner of 15 years, makes it easier for Mache to stay in practice as a veterinarian and help care for their three children.