The association representing state insurance commissioners is encouraging domestic partners in all states “to get smart about their health care insurance.”

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has offered seven tips for domestic partners to recognize their options about health benefits. The statement from the NAIC notes that domestic partnerships “have little or no legal recognition” in most states.

Among the tips is to look at employer-provided benefits, where the NAIC says 34% of large employers offer benefits to domestic partners. Just 12% offered the benefit in 2001.

The NAIC also suggests adding a partner to an individual policy, depending on the state requirements for family members.

The NAIC also recommends talking to an employer to see if he would provide domestic partner coverage at renewal. Research and experience with domestic partner benefits shows that domestic partner coverage adds an estimated 1% to 3% in additional costs to employer plans, according to the NAIC, which says many insurers will only offer domestic partner benefits as part of a benefit package upon request of the employer.