Health Insurance

[Red Bull]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York


I am separated from my wife. I am on her health insurance plan. She has given me a month to get enrolled on another plan, and then she will drop me.

1. What length of time is reasonable for a spouse to drop another spouse off an insurance plan?

2. My employer enrollment period is in December. It was explained to me by my employer human resource department the only way to get enrolled would be by demonstrating that I have lost insurance "involuntarily." Would a separation, of which I did not want, be considered an "involuntary" loss of insurance? It is not a legal separation, and no court action has otherwise occurred.

 

[mistoffolees]

Since it's not a legal separation, you are both responsible for any medical bills. By canceling insurance, she would become responsible for half of your medical bills - which isn't a very smart move.

OTOH, if you're separated, you need to start paying your own expenses. The easiest (and probably fairest) solution is for you to pay your share of the insurance and have her keep it in place.

If one of you had filed for divorce, she would not be able to cancel the insurance. But since you're not divorcing, you can't force her to carry insurance.

 

[Ohiogal]

Since it's not a legal separation, you are both responsible for any medical bills. By canceling insurance, she would become responsible for half of your medical bills - which isn't a very smart move.

OTOH, if you're separated, you need to start paying your own expenses. The easiest (and probably fairest) solution is for you to pay your share of the insurance and have her keep it in place.

If one of you had filed for divorce, she would not be able to cancel the insurance. But since you're not divorcing, you can't force her to carry insurance.

No she wouldn't automatically become responsible for HIS medical bills. Just bieng married wouldn't do that. It could make it a marital debt. Not to mention this OP has several different threads going and there is so much more to this story.

 

[mistoffolees]

No she wouldn't automatically become responsible for HIS medical bills. Just bieng married wouldn't do that. It could make it a marital debt.

That's what I meant. It becomes a marital debt so when they get around to splitting things, they each pay half.

 

[Ohiogal]

That's what I meant. It becomes a marital debt so when they get around to splitting things, they each pay half.

Not necessarily would they each pay half. Depends on a lot of different things -- some of which are mentioned in Red's other threads which could definitely impact things.