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Divorce brings many changes and one of the things it can affect is your health insurance. If you have coverage through your spouse’s plan, you will still have access to health insurance after your divorce is final, but you will need to make decisions about your health insurance options. You have many choices for coverage available to you.
COBRA
If you would like to continue your current coverage on your spouse’s plan, you may be able to do so under a federal law called COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). If your spouse’s company has more than 20 employees, you are covered by this law, which allows you to continue your same plan. You will have to pay for the full cost of the insurance (which may be more than your spouse currently pays if the employer contributes to the cost). You need to notify the employer within 60 days of your divorce that you are choosing to exercise your rights under COBRA. COBRA entitles you to continue the same coverage for up to 36 months. After that, you have to find a new plan elsewhere.
Your Employer
If your own employer offers health insurance, you can explore the options available there. If your employer contributes to the cost of health insurance, it may be less expensive than COBRA coverage. If you are unemployed, but are seeking employment, you can buy COBRA coverage and then cancel it once you have a job with benefits.
The Affordable Care Act
The Affordable Care Act is a federal law that mandates that most people obtain health insurance coverage and makes insurance available for purchase to individuals. A divorce is a qualifying event that allows you to obtain insurance even when open enrollment is not currently available.
For assistance with your divorce, contact the Sampair Group. We represent clients in Mesa, Glendale and Phoenix and are ready to take your call today.
