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I WANT my wife to have Health Insurance when we divorce

  • Thread starter Thread starter Georgespd
  • Start date Start date

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Georgespd

Guest
What is the name of your state?
Louisiana

I WANT my wife to have health insurance when we divorce. My employer pays 75% of the cost of health insurance, and I don't mind paying my share and covering her. How can I do this if we become divorced?

In a year or so I"ll be eligible for retirement and I don't mind sharing the pension, either. My employer pays 100% of the health insurance for retirees, and I would like my wife to have that, also.

Is there any way to do this legally? The health insurance company says she has to be my wife to retain coverage.
 


I AM ALWAYS LIABLE

Senior Member
Georgespd said:
What is the name of your state?
Louisiana

I WANT my wife to have health insurance when we divorce. My employer pays 75% of the cost of health insurance, and I don't mind paying my share and covering her. How can I do this if we become divorced?

In a year or so I"ll be eligible for retirement and I don't mind sharing the pension, either. My employer pays 100% of the health insurance for retirees, and I would like my wife to have that, also.

Is there any way to do this legally? The health insurance company says she has to be my wife to retain coverage.

My response:

While divorce is difficult as it is, but since you're going through it already, I must really compliment you on your decision to keep your wife on your insurance and to share your pension. You're being a man about this.

However, the only way to legally accomplish what you need is to file your Petition for Legal Separation, and not a Divorce (Dissolution). That way, the marital ties will still be there, but your responsibilities to her will only be those that you wish to give her; e.g., insurance and pension.

I do applaud you for your sence of fair play.

IAAL
 
L

Lady Libertine

Guest
Dear George:

WILL YOU MARRY ME???
I will need to divorce my first husband first, but I carry him on my insurance and I'd still be willing to do so, as long as he continues to service my car and mow the lawn. ;)

~LL
 
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Georgespd

Guest
Dear Lady Libertine:
Thanks for your kind words, but I can't seem to get divorced!
I only want to provide a "safety net" for my wife, who is mentally ill, but it seems that I can't do that and also get divorced.
I know I can take an agressive, adversarial approach--leaving her more or less on her own. I can't morally do that. She didn't wish for mental illness, it just happened--and I guess it could have happened to me ("there but for the grace of God go I").

Your message cheered me up. Thanks.
:)
 
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dorenephilpot

Guest
If you DO decide to divorce, you can probably continue to provide the insurance through COBRA, but it's a pretty hefty cost and doesn't last forever.

Otherwise, you can always buy a private policy, but there are usually exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so this route might not work well.

You can also divide the pension through a qualified domestic relations order so that she gets half but so that you don't have any tax consequences.
 

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