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A Guide to Keeping Health Insurance After Divorce J D 11 FEB 7 2003 HAMPSHIRE LAW LIBRARY NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 DATE DUE 2^2- MASS2 KFM 2500 .S739 Staying healthy: guide to keeping health ins. after This Book May Be Kept DAYS IJg *t ONLY I yTF; Cannot Be Renewed Or Transferred ,, (413) 586-2297 COMMONWEALTHOFMASSACHUSETTS HAMPSHIRELAWLIBRARY COURTHOUSE-99 MAIN STREET NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 01060 A Message from Attorney General Tom Reilly oing through a divorce can be a disruptive and troublingexperience. The end ofa marriage will mean changes in manyareas ofone's everyday life. One ofthe questions that inevitably will come up is what happens to health coverage after divorce. My office has worked with Health LawAdvocates on this issue and am pleased to provide you with this guide to I help you understand your health insurance rights after a divorce or legal separation. The Office ofthe Attorney General plays an important role in enforcing insurance laws that protect Massachusetts consumers. Through the Insurance Hotline, the staffofthe Attorney General's Office can help answer questions you have about the laws described in this guide. The Hotline (888-830-6277) is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. encourage you to read this guide and learn more about the laws that I protect your health insurance rights. Sincerely, Tom Reilly Health LawAdvocates(HLA) isthe publicinterest lawfirm ofHealth Care For All, which is working to create a health care system responsive to the needs of all people. HLA provides free legal representation to income-eligible consumers in Massachusetts who are seeking access to health care. HLA's Divorce Judgment and Health Insurance Project focuses on eliminating the its barriers to health insurance afterdivorce and separation. (to /\> Health Advocates FightingforHealthCareJustice rO r I I I I I I I I I ealth insurance is very important to your physical and financial wellbeing. The cost ofeven one hospital visit can be devastating when you have no health insurance. Federal and state laws protect your right to health insuranceafteradivorce.Thisguideexplainsyourrightsandtheactions you should take to stay insured when you get divorced. Many of the rights described in this guide also apply when you and your spouse are LEGALLYSEPARATED.® • FORCAPITALIZEDTERMS IN BLUE,SEEGLOSSARYON PAGES 16-17 The information in thisguide seek help may not apply in all circumstances. If you are from a lawyer unsure if this information applies to you, or you want Use the Legal assistance with your case, Resources on page 21 you should contact a lawyer. Where can learn more about my health I insurance rights? Ifyou believeyour health insurance rights after adivorce have been violated or you want more information aboutyour rights, contact: Attorney General's Insurance Hotline 888-830-6277 Health Law Advocates 617-338-5241 or 800-272-4232 X2980 Mass. Division of Insurance 617-521-7777 413-785-5526 U.S. Dept. of Labor/PWBA (COBRA only) (617) 565-9600 Digitized by the Internet Archive 2015 in https://archive.org/details/stayinghealthyguOOmass Table of Contents Health Insurance After Divorce- questionsAND ANSWERS Introduction Health insurance options afterdivorce InsuredorSelf-Insured? When yourspouse works fora privateemployer Government Plans When yourspouseworks foragovernment employer Nongroup Plans When you do not haveaccess togroupcoverage Remarriage How it affects your right to continuegroup coverage Steps Before andAfter Divorce To protectyourcoverage undera spouse's group plan Who Pays? Premiumsandother health carecostsafterdivorce Children Their rights to health coverage afterseparation ordivorce \Kj Checklist Freeand Reduced-Cost Programs Glossary Your Notes Legal Resources