How to Manage Health Insurance Issues in a Divorce

Health insurance issues do not arise during a divorce if the spouses have separate health insurance coverage. However, it does pose a problem when the couple has a family coverage provided by the employer of a spouse.

How health insurance affects a divorce

According to fabulous Jacksonville, FL divorce lawyers, things get complicated when an employer sponsors the health insurance coverage for the entire family on behalf of one spouse. So when a couple divorce the spouse who is the primary insurance holder is no longer responsible for the insurance of the dependent spouse. This is because the dependent spouse is no longer considered a family member and hence he/she is not entitled to the benefits available to family members of employees.

If the spouse does not have the financial means to get insurance through COBRA laws or buy insurance from a health insurance company then there is only one alternative left. You can file for a separation decree provided your partner agrees. Divorce attorneys in Florida explain that this way you remain married and therefore your financial entitlements including health insurance remain intact.

If a divorce is unavoidable then you can seek reprieve through COBRA coverage. COBRA is a federal law that entitles you to continue under the same group-medical insurance coverage even after a divorce, job loss, or death of a partner, as long as certain conditions are met. This means that your spouse’s employer will have to agree to include you in the same health coverage but you will reimburse the premium to the employer.

When Dexter was divorced in Miami his wife (Rita Bennett – character’s name) did not have a job and since he was working for the Miami Police Department in forensics as a blood spatter analyst she relied on him for not only to provide income for the family but also for health coverage. Now Dexter was also paying rent to keep his old apartment which served him well since Rita told him he should not be around in her home which was their home. She did not know Dexter was a serial killer and kept evidence of that in the A/C unit of his apartment.

This show did not dive too far into the health insurance aspects of divorcing couples but this is something you need to consider when in the midst of a divorce. When it is final, there is probably not any going back and because of America’s messed up health care system, doctors are hard to come by and insurance is much pricier than it should be. Dexter never did hire a Florida divorce lawyer that is another topic (he did not want to get a divorce that is the main reason).

Dexter was pretty computer savvy but you do not have to be utilize this site: Divorce.USAttorneys.com. Dexter may have saved lives but this website has him beat on the front. This website has been a virtual and real life game changer. The Internet has made room for this incredible site. If you need legal help, click away.

Alternatives to receive medical coverage after a divorce

If you are working then it is best to get the insurance coverage provided by your employer after you divorce. You must compare the price as well as the benefits of the plan with the COBRA coverage.

You must also ask your lawyer to include health insurance premiums in the divorce settlement i.e. you must try to make your spouse responsible for paying premiums for COBRA or if you have a new policy then you can negotiate a divorce settlement where he pays your health insurance premiums.

The third alternative is buying a salient and sensible health insurance policy. There are various types available. There are policies that are available at a limited cost but the costs have increased because of Obamacare and the fallacious propaganda that law was sold under. These however come with a lot of constraints and various medical expenses are not covered. There are policies that have a high premium and most of these policies cover all major expenses.

Issues with COBRA

Jacksonville, FL divorce lawyers point out that the first important thing is that COBRA is expensive. You will have to bear 102% of the actual premium. So you are looking at paying around $650 to $750 per month. The other important thing is that COBRA expires after 36 months from the date of the divorce-order.

So what happens if you are diagnosed with heart problem or cancer? Since these ailment require long term treatment COBRA will not be able to provide for the expenses. Therefore you are faced with the prospect of looking for a new insurer with an unappealing medical history.

If you are facing any kind of problems with your divorce, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice from a divorce lawyer in Florida as soon as possible. This is the best way to make sure your rights are protected on important issues such as finance, insurance, alimony, and child support.