Medical Insurance

[SopranoKris]

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

Our divorce was final as of yesterday. A few months ago, my ex was requesting alimony as part of our settlement because his biggest concern was that once we're divorced, he would have no medical insurance. I called my HR dept. at work (which is a recorded line) and they said that if the judge signs off on it, I can keep him on my medical insurance as long as there is a reasonable end-date for him to obtain his own insurance. We agreed to 18 months, which would end his coverage as of Dec. 31, 2009.

Judge signed everything in court yesterday, divorce is final. The only "alimony" is my agreement to continue to pay his medical & car insurance until Dec. 31, 2009. Now today at work, my HR department tells me that they told me the wrong thing a few months ago and that they'll only provide COBRA. There is NO WAY in hell that I can afford to pay COBRA. I would have never agreed to continue his medical if they had told me it would have only been COBRA.

Will I be able to make them continue the insurance for 18 months as they originally told me or am I going to be stuck with nearly $400 a month in COBRA insurance that I can't even remotely afford to pay? I have no idea what to do at this point (other than go outside and scream for a few minute to blow off some steam )

Any advice?

 

[LdiJ]

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

Our divorce was final as of yesterday. A few months ago, my ex was requesting alimony as part of our settlement because his biggest concern was that once we're divorced, he would have no medical insurance. I called my HR dept. at work (which is a recorded line) and they said that if the judge signs off on it, I can keep him on my medical insurance as long as there is a reasonable end-date for him to obtain his own insurance. We agreed to 18 months, which would end his coverage as of Dec. 31, 2009.

Judge signed everything in court yesterday, divorce is final. The only "alimony" is my agreement to continue to pay his medical & car insurance until Dec. 31, 2009. Now today at work, my HR department tells me that they told me the wrong thing a few months ago and that they'll only provide COBRA. There is NO WAY in hell that I can afford to pay COBRA. I would have never agreed to continue his medical if they had told me it would have only been COBRA.

Will I be able to make them continue the insurance for 18 months as they originally told me or am I going to be stuck with nearly $400 a month in COBRA insurance that I can't even remotely afford to pay? I have no idea what to do at this point (other than go outside and scream for a few minute to blow off some steam )

Any advice?

Check into a private medical insurance policy for your ex, that might be more affordable. Talk to your boss and explain the problem and see if there is anything he can do or is willing to try to do to help you.

If there is no way around paying for COBRA, then you could try taking it back to court and explain the problem to the judge. You may not get anywhere with it though.

 

[SopranoKris]

Thanks, LdiJ!

Luckily our HR line is a recorded line, so I've asked the supervisor to pull up the call. They explicitly told me when I called them months ago that he could remain on my insurance "as is" with a judge's approval. They said if the judge didn't agree, then it would be COBRA. The judge most defnitely agreed. He signed it and I've got a copy. I just want to make sure they live up to what they told me. I wouldn't have agreed to the medical if it had been only COBRA.

The good thing is that the agreement says I agree to provide medical insurance until Dec. 31, 2009. It doesn't say it has to be the existing insurance we have now. Unfortunately, he's got so many medical issues, I think the chances of getting him private insurance might be slim to none. (Asthma, allergies, sleep apnea, double-hip replacement, herniated discs in neck, etc.) He's a walking pre-exsiting condition

However, I will most definitely look into it and see if I can find something reasonable.