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, a 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.