VIERA — Under a new policy approved by Brevard County commissioners this week, the spouses of same-sex employees are now eligible for county health benefits.

Commission Vice Chair Jim Barfield, who was the lone vote against the policy change, said he wanted to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court decides one the legality of same-sex marriage, admitting that his religious beliefs influenced his vote.

Under the plan favored by the majority of commissioners, non-employee spouses of same-sex couples are now provisionally covered by county health insurance retroactive to Jan. 6, the day Brevard County started issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Under the commissioners’ action, if the U.S. Supreme Court or the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that covers Florida upholds the Florida Constitution’s definition of marriage, then Brevard’s previous policy related to spouse coverage would be automatically reinstated.

Commissioner Curt Smith said he voted in favor of that approach, “even though it’s against my principles,” referring to his religious beliefs about same-sex marriage. Smith said he didn’t want to leave the county open to liability if a spouse of a same-sex couple didn’t get health insurance then got sick or injured.

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