Cancer, divorce, insurance, what to do?

nextstepsfromhere

Hello.  Have made it through the whole 9 yards of chemo, double mastectomy, radiation and hysterectomy....things are looking up....and the reality of the hellish rollercoaster of a marriage has really hit me.  I am planning to divorce, though there is the consequence of no insurance following a divorce...well, I guess you do have the lovely option of trying to make the COBRA payments.  Two kids too...it stinks, but I can't tell right now what is better---having the insanity of this marriage cause another episode of cancer--or try to find some peace and deal with not having insurance if it comes back....

If you have been through something similar or have ideas, I would really appreciate them. 

idaho

Hi Nextsteps...I am on the exact same roller coaster... I am divorcing in 4 months when my youngest graduates high school.  I will not have insurance... what i am doing is going to EVERY job interview I can in hopes of getting a job with benefits.  If that doesn't work I guess if it comes back I will make $20.00 payments a month for the rest of my life..... I really totally get what you said about having the insanity of this marriage case another episode of cancer...I am totally convinced that the stress of mine caused my cancer.  Good luck and peace to you sister.   Tami

konakat

When I was living in the states I had a job developing health insurance benefits software.  The one I knew had the option for the main insurance holder to have an ex-wife/ex-husband as one of his/her dependents -- i.e., to continue coverage after divorce.  I think this can be negotiated in the divorce settlement.  Perhaps it depends on which state you live in or what the particular plan allows.  Still, it would be worth checking out.

rreynolds1

When I went though my divorce, the courts said my husband had to pay for the cobra payments because of my lack of income at the time.  I would ask your attorney about that.

Roseann