My soon-to-be-ex-husband and I have been separated for over a year. I have not filed for divorce yet as I am hopeful that we may be able to draft a final agreement and not have to fight it out in court, although he is definitely dragging things out. He forgot to take me off his employee health insurance plan last year. I just got paperwork that seems to indicate that he didn’t take me off this year either. I am certain that he is not just trying to be nice: he is quite hostile towards me and does not try to be “nice” in any other way or pay a penny more than he has to. I am assuming that he either forgot again or was careless, which is not entirely uncharacteristic of him.
My question is whether I have any obligation to him. I understand that he may use it as a negotiating point in the settlement and I’ll deal with that if it comes up, but if we aren’t able to reach an agreement and we go to court, can I be legally required to pay him back? I did not ask to stay on his plan but I am using the benefits.
Is my husband required to keep me on his health insurance as a spouse while we are still married? we are recently separated and he had taken me off his insurance. I am finding it difficult to get new insurance that is affordable for me . My question is can I stay on his insurance legally because we are still married? I have been told by my doctor he can not remove me because we are still married. He had me removed the very next morning . We have been separated for only about four weeks now and we are waiting out the year seleration period.
I see your answer that he can keep her on the insurance but her question was more can he take her off the insurance before a divorce is completed? I am in the same situation. Thanks
Yes, a husband can remove a wife from health insurance prior to an absolute divorce being granted unless there is a court order or separation agreement to the contrary. In most cases however, it would be difficult to remove a spouse unless during an open enrollment period.
Anna Ayscue
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh
Rosen Online | Unlimited confidential access to a North Carolina attorney for $199/mo - click here
The response posted above is based upon the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with an attorney, fully explain your situation, and allow the attorney sufficient opportunity to research the applicable law and facts required to render an accurate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action. The information posted on this forum is available for public viewing and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship with any individual. These answers are provided for informational purposes only, a person should consult with their own individual legal counsel before taking any action that could affect their legal rights or obligations.