Maintaining Your Health Insurance
There are many things to consider during divorce, and health insurance should be one of them. Having adequate health coverage is important, especially if you have children. When you work with our team at Lois M. Brenner, Esq., we can explain some of the health care options available when you are separated or going through a divorce. We have been serving and protecting NYC families for over 35 years.
Overlooking Your Health Needs Could Be a Costly Mistake
Divorce changes many things, but what it will not change is the fact that you and your spouse will continue to have concerns—not only about your own health, but also that of your children. And with those concerns comes the need to have adequate health benefits to cover your family members.
Overlooking your health needs can lead to costly mistakes in more ways than one, so if you are in the legal separation or divorce process, now is the time to look over all of your financial documents (health policies, life insurance, etc.). Talk this over with your legal counsel.
When a marriage ends, there are normally several options for acquiring health coverage for yourself and your children, regardless of who gets custody. Many times, it’s a matter of which option to pursue.
About the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federally mandated law designed to protect employees and their families from losing coverage as a direct result of divorce, death, job loss and other life circumstances. For example, if your spouse maintains coverage through a company, and that company employs at least 20 people, you may continue this coverage for up to one and a half or three years—provided you are willing to pay the premium or monthly fee.
Coverage Through Your Employer
If you are currently employed, and your employer offers an affordable healthcare plan that works for you and your budget or financial situation, then by all means see what it has to offer. Enroll if it fits your budget and meets you and your children’s medical needs. While years ago it may have been cheaper to get coverage under your ex-spouse’s policy, this may no longer be the case in today’s market and health care environment.
Coverage as a Part of Your Divorce Settlement
Ask, if you were to find your own health benefits, whether or not you can be compensated by your spouse for a portion or all of the cost in the divorce settlement if you need this financial assistance.
Purchasing Individual Health Insurance
In some cases, purchasing individual health insurance may be your only or best option. Once again, you may have to pay the monthly fee on your own, but you can find out what is available. Ready or not, divorce brings changes – some may be welcome, some not. But try not to let financial issues became a reason to stay in a relationship that no longer works, because it may be costly to the mind, body and spirit of everyone involved, including your children.
To learn more about your healthcare options, call us at Lois Brenner, Esq.: (646) 663-4546.
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We have Lois Brenner to thank for turning our marriage around. We hired Lois as our mediator when we were considering divorce. When we started working with her and she realized we wanted to try to keep our marriage together she suggested a postnuptial agreement to get our marriage back on track. Having the postnuptial agreement made us both accountable when it came to our issues. Having this doc in place is clearly helping us redefine our marriage in a better way. I don’t know if we will never get divorced, but for now we are respecting each others’ boundaries and are aware of the consequences if we don’t! It was really cool that Ms. Brenner suggested this method as an option. Most divorce attorneys would not have suggested a way for us to try to stay together. She is very talented and unusual in the best possible way. If we choose to take the divorce path eventually we will definitely hire her again. In the meantime we are making it work. She is amazing.- Joseph M
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Lois Brenner is a remarkable attorney and compassionate advocate for dads. She guided me when I was confused and didn't know what to do to get shared custody of my daughter. She encouraged me to stay strong and to fight, and she negotiated a much better custody arrangement than my previous lawyer. What great attorney. Thank you Ms. Brenner- Christoff
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Lois Brenner, her colleagues, team of experts and staff are phenominal. I hired them to help me to see my son who had been taken out of state by my wife during this insane pandemic. She decided to take him to stay with family but then she sideswiped me with a divorce. I was devastated. Lois Brenner and her litigation partner fought for me and made it possible for me to see my son. They are handling my divorce now and their strength and support is getting me through a really tough time. They are smart, tough and highly experienced.
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I am a highly successful money manager and before meeting Lois Brenner, hiring a divorce attorney was a disaster. Two previous divorce attorneys really wasted my funds, and had no savvy when it came to asset and property distribution. Lois Brenner finally fixed the mess I was in. She and her team of financial experts, including attorney Matthew Ehrlich were able to prepare an asset and property distribution that was realistic, keeping in mind tax ramifications, and important distributions and allocations. They negotiated a thorough and financially sound divorce settlement. If you have a lot of assets, just any divorce attorney won’t do. You really need someone with a lot of knowledge. Lois Brenner and Matthew Ehrlich were really impressive. Thanks!!- Michael C.
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“Keep up the good work!”- Jonathan
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“We are forever grateful!”- Donna and Frank
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What a gem! Lois Brenner is the best out there by far... She got my husband and I right away. Listened, guided, let me cry, and never gave up on us during our mediation sessions. It was not easy but she made it possible. Even my husband liked her and agreed to mediate after we had lots of arguments. Thank you Lois. I already recommended you to my cardiologist. Have a happy, productive New Year.- Bernie A.
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You two are really the dynamic duo! I can’t thank you both enough for the incredible job you did on my case. As a young career woman and working mother of a toddler I could not have been in better hands. You really toughened me up and guided me when I was feeling really lost. I was afraid of my husband’s clever antics but you worked hard on my case and encouraged me to fight. The settlement I received exceeded my expectations. You both listened, always returned e-mails, phone calls and even reached out to me on the weekends when I was having trouble. If anyone is going through a divorce and needs the best people to fight for you call Lois and Matt. It was the best thing I ever did. There are no words to express how grateful I am.- Tara P.
