attorney do i need when my ex spouse used my health insurance illegally?

by Caesar Johnston 3 min read

Suppose your spouse does remove you from your current health insurance policy that you were covered under. In that case, you should contact an attorney immediately and the plan administrator to ensure your rights are protected, and your coverage does not end.

Full Answer

Can my ex-spouse keep me on their health insurance?

Feb 08, 2021 · Am I responsible for my ex wife using my health insurance after my divorce? Lawyer directory. Find a lawyer near you. Avvo has 97% of all lawyers in the US. Find the best ones near you. ... Start with your legal issue to find the right lawyer for you. Choose an area of law that your issue relates to: Bankruptcy and debt; Business; Car accident ...

Can a former spouse of a federal employee get health insurance?

Nov 07, 2012 · Mr. Robert Jason De Groot (Unclaimed Profile) Update Your Profile. Answered on Nov 07th, 2012 at 9:51 PM. You have to follow what the court order says, and if you do not you can be held in contempt of court and jailed for up to 180 days. Typically you would have to provide health insurance until she remarries or dies.

Can a former spouse get health insurance after divorce?

Mar 11, 2019 · You may have to pay the entire premium each month, which can be much higher than what you or your spouse is paying now. To learn more about keeping you and your dependents covered under a health insurance policy during and after a divorce, contact the experts at The Sampair Group today. Our team can be reached at 623-777-3926.

What happens if an ex spouse is the beneficiary of an insurance?

Feb 11, 2020 · For example, if the policy holder is covering your child and there is an employee plus one category that costs $100.00 per pay period but to keep the ex-spouse on the policy would require the family plan, which would be $200.00 per pay period, the ex-spouse would likely be responsible for that extra $100.00 per pay period to remain on the ...

Can my ex husband take me off his health insurance?

If you and your spouse separate, your spouse may not remove you or alter health insurance coverage. The dependent spouse may file an Automatic Temporary Restraining Order that specifically regards health insurance. The spouse with the insurance cannot legally remove the other spouse from the policy at this time.

Do I have to keep my ex wife on my insurance?

The law in the United States is that once your divorce occurs, health insurance coverage ends if your insurance is had through your spouse.

How does separation affect health insurance?

Most health insurance plans treat a judgment for legal separation the same as a judgment for dissolution of marriage. This means that if you are subject to a judgment of legal separation, you are no longer the dependent of your spouse or partner for purposes of health insurance coverage.Nov 5, 2018

Can I stay on my husbands car insurance after divorce?

In general, insurance policies will cover only one household, the one where you and your vehicle reside, so you and your ex-spouse cannot keep one policy for the cars that both of you used to insure together when married and living together.Feb 27, 2014

Can I remove my spouse from my health insurance if we are separated Canada?

Can I Remove My Spouse From My Health Insurance If We Are Separated In Canada? The short answer is, yes. Some Canadian health insurance plans will terminate coverage for your ex-spouse at the time of legal separation.Dec 22, 2021

Can you remove spouse from health insurance before divorce California?

The answer is No. Simple as that. Once you are married and on your spouse's insurance, you cannot remove them from your insurance policy prior to a divorce.Feb 18, 2018

What is a Cobra plan?

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, ...

Is Cobra more expensive than regular insurance?

COBRA insurance is often more expensive than marketplace insurance, partly because there isn't any financial assistance from the government available to help you pay those COBRA premiums.Mar 10, 2022

Can you continue to have insurance after a legal separation?

With a legal separation, the couple is still considered married, so insurance coverage can continue in most cases . However, some companies have specific rules about continuing coverage if a couple is separated, so check with the employer before you decide to file for separation.

Does health insurance expire after divorce?

Federal, rather than state law governs rules regarding health insurance after divorce. This means, no matter where you live, insurance coverage under a spouse’s policy terminates as soon as you are divorced.

How long does a dependent spouse have to be covered by Cobra?

Most insurance plans allow the dependent spouse to seek coverage under COBRA for up to 36 months following the divorce. Whether COBRA coverage is available to you will depend on the size of your spouse’s company if insurance is through an employer.

How many employees are required to have Cobra insurance?

For example, only medium and large companies (generally more than 20 employees) are required to offer COBRA coverage.

Can you extend your insurance coverage after divorce?

Some couples, especially those where one spouse has a complicated medical issue, may want to delay divorce to extend insurance coverage. For some couples, this may mean pursuing a legal separation rather than divorce. With a legal separation, the couple is still considered married, so insurance coverage can continue in most cases.

Can you delay divorce if you have medical issues?

Some couples, especially those where one spouse has a complicated medical issue, may want to delay divorce to extend insurance coverage. For some couples, this may mean pursuing a legal separation rather than divorce.

Can a spouse split their divorce into two?

And in other states, including California, couples can bifurcate (divide) their divorce cases into two separate phases.

Can you count on your ex-spouse for health insurance?

You should never count on your ex-spouse to fulfill your health insurance needs. He or she could agree to do this and then change their pledge. For this reason, you must make health insurance a priority during divorce negotiations and come to an agreement in writing.

Can my spouse keep my health insurance after divorce?

Your spouse may agree to keep you on their plan but the insurance company has the right to drop you once the divorce is final. Furthermore, if the health insurance plan is sponsored by an employer, by law they have no obligation to continue to pay the premiums associated with your health coverage. All in all, the health insurance provider can ...

What to do if your ex-spouse is not able to agree to a divorce?

However, if you and your ex-spouse are unable to reach an agreement during the negotiations, you have the right to file a court order and bring the issue in front of a judge.

How long do you have to get health insurance after divorce?

Health insurance providers consider a divorce a qualifying life event that makes you eligible for a special enrollment period. In fact, by law, you have 60 days to join a new health insurance plan once you go through a life changing event such as a divorce. This gives you plenty of time to find a new health insurance provider while you are still covered. To start with, look to your employer for new health coverage. If a policy is not available, you can go through the healthcare exchanges that have been put in place by the Affordable Care Act. These government plans, such as Medicare, are an alternative option for health coverage for you and any dependents.

Can a spouse stay on the other party's insurance in Arizona?

Laws regarding this vary from state to state. However, in Arizona spouses and children do have the right to remain on the other party’s insurance plan during the divorce. This is a protected right and one that can be sought through a preliminary injunction that will prevent your spouse ...

What to do if your spouse breaks the agreement?

If your spouse breaks the agreement solidified during the divorce, the court will not seek out your ex-spouse on their own. This is something you need to do with the help of an attorney.

What if a health insurance policy is not available?

If a policy is not available, you can go through the healthcare exchanges that have been put in place by the Affordable Care Act. These government plans, such as Medicare, are an alternative option for health coverage for you and any dependents.

Can an ex spouse continue to receive insurance?

For instance, an ex-spouse could continue receiving insurance benefits regardless of whether the insured party remarries if there is a rider policy available.

Can an ex spouse stay on a policy?

So long as there is no difference in cost to what the policyholder would be paying if children are also being covered, the ex-spouse can stay on with no financial responsibility. However, if there is an additional financial cost to the policyholder to keep the ex-spouse covered, the ex-spouse will usually have to pay for that additional cost.

Does health insurance end with divorce?

While a person’s health insurance coverage from their spouse may end as soon as the divorce is allowed by the Judge , the coverage for both of your children will likely not be impacted by these proceedings. Usually, the parent covering the health insurance costs for the children can include that cost within the child support calculation.

Can an ex spouse continue cobra?

If the company that provides the insurance allows for COBRA coverage and remaining on the insurance is not possible for the ex-spouse, this may be an option to allow for the continuance of health care coverage. This is typically a rather expensive option, which is why it’s important to make sure everyone understands what all ...

What to think about when going through a divorce?

If you are going through a divorce or legal separation, you likely have given some thought to some of the big issues, including support, property division, and child custody, but have probably failed to think about your health insurance. However, the more you know about health insurance, the better prepared you will be while going through ...

Can you be a dependent if you are separated?

This means that if you are subject to a judgment of legal separation, you are no longer the dependent of your spouse or partner for purposes of health insurance coverage. However, if your spouse or partner has a government plan, and you are subject to a judgment of legal separation, you may be able to remain a dependent on their health care ...

Is Cobra available to domestic partners?

However, COBRA is not available to registered domestic partners. Cal-COBRA provides benefits similar to COBRA's for a divorced or legally separated spouse or partner.

What is Cobra insurance?

COBRA requires health plans to offer continuation coverage to you or your spouse, but not registered domestic partners, on the occurrence of specific events that would otherwise result in termination or reduction of your plan benefits. ERISA §§ 601-609; 29 U.S.C §§ 1161-1169. Under COBRA, your insurance is limited to three years ...

Can you get a temporary restraining order after divorce?

No. Once you have filed for divorce or legal separation, or have been served with a Petition and Summons for divorce or legal separation, specific orders automatically go into effect restraining you and your spouse or partner from taking certain actions. These orders are called Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders ...

What to do if you are covered by your spouse's health insurance?

If you’re covered on your spouse’s health insurance plan, you will need to find new health insurance after your divorce. If you’re employed, your best bet is typically to enroll in your employer’s health insurance plan. If that’s not an option, then your primary choices are COBRA or a private plan (aka Affordable Care Act plans).

Can my ex keep me on my healthcare?

In a best-case scenario, your ex would allow you to stay on their healthcare plan until open enrollment periods roll around again. This makes getting healthcare insurance much easier. In a contentious divorce, a spouse may choose to drop you from his or her company healthcare plan as soon as possible.

Is COBRA the most expensive health insurance?

If that’s not an option, then your primary choices are COBRA or a private plan (aka Affordable Care Act plans). COBRA is typically the most expensive, but not always. To find out, you’ll have to compare your options. eHealthInsurance is the best place to start shopping for health insurance online.

Can a spouse continue to have health insurance after divorce?

Also, during a divorce, temporary orders by the court may mandate that a spouse continue to provide health insurance until a divorce is finalized. If a spouse violates that order and drops a spouse anyway, the spouse that loses coverage can file a petition for a violation of the court order.

Can health insurance be affected by divorce?

Failing to do so correctly and timely could constitute insurance fraud. In divorces where children are involved, health insurance coverage will generally not be affected by the parents’ divorce.

How long do you have to get insurance after divorce?

Because divorce is considered a qualifying life event, you will have 60 days after your divorce to get coverage during a special enrollment period.

How long does health insurance last?

Coverage can start in as little as 24 hours and can last for up to 6 to 12 months, depending on the state where you live.

Why is it important to consult a life insurance attorney during a divorce?

It is important to consult a life insurance attorney while you are going through a divorce to avoid conflicts later. Recovering the life insurance benefit after it’s been given to the wrong party may be challenging and could result in a lengthy litigation.

Does a deceased employee's life insurance go to the person named in the divorce decree?

If a divorce decree contains all the information required for a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) under ERISA, a deceased employee’s life insurance proceeds will go to the person named in the divorce decree rather than his named beneficiary. ERISA was amended in 1984 to provide greater protection for spouses and dependents after a divorce.

Can a spouse lose their beneficiary on life insurance?

Many states have enacted laws stating that a former spouse automatically loses his/her designation as a beneficiary on life insurance policies. Policies governed by federal laws preserving ex-spouses’ designations will not be subject to automatic revocation. Second, a divorce decree must be analyzed to determine whether it falls under ...

What happens if you forget to update your life insurance policy after divorce?

The revocation upon-divorce statute means that if a divorced policyholder never updated his beneficiary by contacting the insurance company and following its procedure for changing a beneficiary, the ex-spouse will not be able to get the benefits after the policy owner’s death. Thus, even if you forget to update your life insurance policy ...

Do insurance companies follow a table of precedence?

Sometimes, the insurance company will follow a table of precedence in its own policy to name the individual who is the next in line to receive the payout. The second problem with reliance on such laws is that they do not control all life insurance claims.

Can a divorce decree override a beneficiary?

Can a Divorce Decree Override a Named Beneficiary? Yes and no. A divorce decree can override a beneficiary designation in a life insurance policy only in cases where the divorce decree (usually a state court order) is not preempted by laws controlling the life insurance policy itself.

Can a parent receive SGLI if the ex wife is the beneficiary?

For example, if an insured had an SGLI policy (Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance) controlled by such federal law and named his parents as beneficiaries, the parents will receive the benefit even if there exists a state court divorce decree obligating the insured to keep his ex-wife as the beneficiary on his SGLI policy.

Does employer group cover ex spouse?

Employer-Group Coverage Doesn’t Cover an Ex-Spouse. Many people across the United States are covered by employer coverage or their spouse’s group plan. For many employer plans, health insurance is provided to eligible dependents of the subscriber. The health insurance company will establish who meets the definition of an eligible dependent.

Can a spouse be on my insurance after divorce?

Once a Judgment of Divorce is entered, the non-subscribing spouse will no longer qualify as an eligible dependent and can’t remain on their former spouse’s policy. Children who are eligible can remain on the insurance policy post-divorce.

Does divorce affect health insurance?

But what about the matter of divorce and health insurance? In some situations, there is a spouse that does not work or has employment that does not provide health insurance benefits. No matter the reason , the matter of health insurance must be dealt with as a part of any divorce.

Can a spouse be a dependent after divorce?

Once a Judgment of Divorce is entered, the non-subscribing spouse will no longer qualify as an eligible dependent and can’t remain on their former spouse’s policy. Children who are eligible can remain on the insurance policy post-divorce.

Is legal separation considered a divorce?

Choosing legal separation over divorce. This would not be considered a divorce; the parties could live separate and resolve certain issues. Proceeding with this option would mean the dependent spouse could remain on the subscriber’s health insurance plan.

Does the Affordable Care Act cover divorce?

Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act has you covered. The Affordable Care Act was a comprehensive health care reform law that went into effect in March 2010.

Can a dependent spouse get their own health insurance?

If the dependent spouse can acquire their own health insurance through their employer, that would be the best option. A former spouse will not be required to automatically fund a new medical insurance policy regardless of the employment status of either party unless otherwise negotiated in the settlement agreement.

Time Period For Coverage

  • Federal, rather than state law governs rules regarding health insurance after divorce. This means, no matter where you live, insurance coverage under a spouse’s policy terminates as soon as you are divorced. Most insurance plans allow the dependent spouse to seek coverage under COBRA for up to 36 months following the divorce. Whether COBRA coverage is available to you will depe…
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How Can I Extend Insurance Coverage?

  • Some couples, especially those where one spouse has a complicated medical issue, may want to delay divorce to extend insurance coverage. For some couples, this may mean pursuing a legal separation rather than divorce. With a legal separation, the couple is still considered married, so insurance coverage can continue in most cases. However, some companies have specific rules …
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Who Covers Medical Bills After Divorce?

  • Even if you receive COBRA coverage under your spouse’s plan, you’ll likely be solely responsible for all your medical bills and any co-payments not covered by insurance. Typically, you’ll also be required to pay the COBRA premiums. Some spouses find cheaper and better coverage after a divorce through their own employer’s insurance plans or with pri...
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What About Coverage For My Children?

  • Unlike adults, a child’s ability to receive insurance coverage is unaffected by their parents’ divorce. A child’s insurance coverage should continue uninterrupted. A judge will determine which parent is obligated to provide insurance coverage to the child and will designate one parent to be responsible for the insurance premiums. Sometimes this ends up being the same parent who pr…
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