There are a lot of pressing concerns in a divorce: who is going to live where, who gets to keep what vehicle, when the kids will get to see each parent. One of the important questions that is often overlooked relates to Healthcare. Healthcare Insurance is essential for everyone in America in order to be protected and provided for. If your marriage is ending, is your Healthcare ending too?
What If I Am On My Spouse’s Plan?
Health Insurance plans will only cover spouses and children in addition to the plan’s primary holder. They will not cover girlfriends, roommates, or best friends. That includes ex-spouses. That means that if you are on your spouse’s Health Insurance plan, you will be removed from it once the divorce is finalized. If they are on your Health Insurance plan, they will be removed from it once the divorce is finalized. That’s how it works.
Will That Happen During the Divorce?
The plan removal generally happens after the divorce has been finalized and your relationship has legally changed. If your spouse tries to remove you from their Health insurance plan before the divorce is finalized, speak with your attorney. You may be legally required to stay on it until the divorce is over.
What About My Children?
If your children are already covered by your spouse’s Health Insurance plan, they may still be able to stay on it after the divorce. After all, their relationship with your spouse isn’t changing. It is also possible for children to be covered by two different plans simultaneously, if you end up including them on yours as well.
Can I Keep the Same Coverage?
If you want to retain the same Health Insurance plan after your divorce, you can continue it with COBRA. You have sixty days to sign up with COBRA if you want to keep the same exact Health Insurance plan after your divorce. If you do sign up, you can continue using COBRA for up to three years. COBRA is convenient, but it can be more expensive than other plans.
What Other Options Do I Have?
Your best alternative option is getting a Health Insurance plan through your employer, especially if they pay a portion of it. This will likely be the cheapest option that works well for your local area.
You also have the option of buying a Health Insurance plan through the Affordable Care Act. This seeks to make Healthcare plans more accessible at better price plans. Although you normally have to wait for the single annual Open Enrollment period to get a plan this way, you are granted a Special Enrollment Period of sixty days following a divorce when you can enroll no matter what time of year it is.
How Can I Get Help?
At Divorce in Texas, we believe in securing the future by managing the present. That means understanding your options when it comes to Health Insurance and finding the best one for you. For help with anything related to your divorce, contact Divorce in Texas today! We are here to help you through it, one step at a time.
Divorce Wise™
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