I commend this action and strongly support it.   My own company offers this benefit, and before it was offered, it took time to quell fears and misunderstandings about how widely it would be used and how much it would cost.  Once we implemented it, we found that the cost is not significant, and that the benefit is not widely used.  BUT -- and this is important -- no matter that it isn't widely used, employees see this as an essential safety net.  In today's environment, if a non-married partner loses their job, an employee wants to know that there is an option for continuing health insurance.  Given the health care crisis in the country today, this is an important, cost-effective action to take.