Obtaining health coverage after a divorce

When an individual in Michigan gets divorced, their life could be impacted in several ways. For instance, the separation could affect an individual’s ability to get insurance. In some cases, a spouse who was on a shared policy while married will be entitled to COBRA for 36 months after the divorce is finalized. However, this may only apply if the other spouse works for a company with 20 or more employees.

Furthermore, it can be an expensive option as employers may charge up to 102 percent of the premium associated with a given plan. While adults might have to find new coverage for themselves, their children won’t lose their insurance. As part of a divorce decree, the parent who is in the better financial situation may be asked to pay for a child’s coverage.

In some cases, it’s possible for an individual to remain on a spouse’s insurance plan by getting a legal separation. Like a divorce, a couple that’s legally separated lives apart from each other and may create an agreement similar to a divorce decree. However, the marriage is still intact from a legal perspective. Despite this potential benefit, some analysts maintain that a legal separation is not a good idea unless it;s done for religious or safety purposes.

When a marriage ends, an divorcee may find themselves wondering how they will pay for food, shelter and other basics such as health insurance. It’s often possible to ask for spousal support as part of a divorce settlement to help take care of such expenses. As a general rule, the lower-earning ex is entitled to the same standard of living after a divorce as during the course of the marriage.