When you get a divorce, you’ll focus on many things you want to retain as assets, but something you should also consider is the things you’re likely to lose in the process. Are you in a relationship where your husband’s health insurance covers you? Will you lose it when the paperwork is finalized? If so, then you should look into a plan before your divorce is finalized.
The way divorce affects your health insurance is important. If you don’t understand how to apply, you could end up without the insurance you need for months on end. For example, did you know that the Affordable Health Care Act requires that you apply for insurance during an open enrollment period? If you don’t do that, you could lose the chance to get coverage for the year.
After a divorce, you have 60 days to get insurance thanks to a special enrollment period. During that time, you’ll want to purchase your insurance; don’t wait until then to start going through the options. You’ll want to include the cost of your insurance and the potential growing expense of insurance in your divorce, so you can try to be compensated for losing the insurance you had in your marriage.
If you have health insurance through your own employer, you won’t have as many issues, but you may still want to bring this up in your divorce paperwork. Your insurance may not be the same or could cost you more, so you can ask to be reimbursed for some of the costs you’re accruing due to your divorce.
Source: The Huffington Post, “5 Things You Need to Know About Health Insurance After Divorce,” Karen Covy, Nov. 20, 2015