Before you take the leap and move forward with a divorce, you probably want to be sure that you have all of your affairs in order. One of the most overlooked aspects of divorce is what will happen with your health insurance, as you and your spouse are likely on the same health insurance plan.
To help you ensure that you have continuous health insurance coverage throughout your divorce and once the divorce has been finalized, we have provided more information below regarding the PA divorce process and what to expect from your health insurance.
The PA Divorce Process
People often assume that the divorce process is very complex, but this is not the case. After you file your divorce complaint, your spouse will hopefully agree to the divorce after they’ve been served, which will make the divorce uncontested.
Then, you will need to work with your spouse to figure out how your marital property should be divided. Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state, so your marital property and assets should be divided fairly between you. Note that this doesn’t mean equal.
Next, you will take a closer look at whether alimony is going to be sought after. In many cases, alimony is only awarded when one spouse was financially dependent on the other.
Depending on the details of your case, alimony could be awarded temporarily, indefinitely, or not at all. The more you are able to work with your spouse to come to an agreement in your divorce settlement, the quicker your divorce will be finalized.
What to Expect from Your Health Insurance
If you and your spouse are on the same health insurance, one of you will need to find their own health insurance policy before your divorce decree has been entered. If you are the policyholder on your health insurance and your spouse is a covered family member, then your spouse will need to obtain their own health insurance policy prior to the finalization of your divorce.
Once the divorce is finalized, your spouse will no longer be considered a covered family member. The same would apply if you are currently on your spouse’s health insurance policy.
It is more common than you might think for vindictive spouses to try to cease their spouse’s health insurance coverage as soon as you serve them with divorce papers. But, under Pennsylvania law, your spouse is not legally able to kick you off of their insurance policy until the date your divorce decree is entered. If your spouse told you otherwise, contact a divorce lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options.
Contact a Pennsylvania Divorce Lawyer
If you are worried about how your divorce will impact your health insurance and you want to be sure that you are taking the necessary steps to ensure continuous coverage, reach out to one of our dedicated divorce lawyers today.
We can be reached through the online submission form below or by phone at (412) 231-9786 to schedule your initial consultation.