Obamacare Could Drive Up Divorce Rates

 Posted on October 12, 2013 in Divorce

There have been several unforeseen consequences of healthcare reform, not the least of which was a government shutdown that all but brought the federally-run machinations to a grinding halt in October. Yet according to the Washington Times, there’s another unintended consequence of Obamacare—rising divorce rates. “Many couples that would like to get divorced stay together because they simply cannot afford to live on their own,” reports the Washington Times. “Frequently this decision is driven by the cost of healthcare benefits.” With the implementation of President Obama’s healthcare reform—the most sweeping reform of one the nation’s social programs since the Great Depression—the number of people that can afford to pay their own insurance costs, rather than having to depend on a spouse, will increase. Those who may have been trudging through a bad marriage will no longer have to—which could make the divorce rate increase, according to the Washington Times. The threat of losing healthcare during divorce before Obamacare was especially significant for women. “According to a University of Michigan study in 2012,” reports the Washington Times, “about 115,000 women lose their health insurance every year after getting divorced.” This is due to the disproportionate number of women who are employed in traditional job structures outside the home, in which employers pick up some of the tab for healthcare costs. “Even when eligible for COBRA health benefits under their ex-spouse’s plan,” reports the Washington Times, “some women can no longer afford premiums on their own.” And it hasn’t been a short-term problem. More than 25 percent of women who were dropped from their husband’s insurance after divorce were still uninsured half a year later. Now that healthcare costs will come down for a significant number of these women, they could be more likely to initiate divorce when they wouldn’t have before. If you or someone you know is considering divorce but have questions as to whether it’s sustainable given your healthcare costs, or any other reason, the most important first step is to seek the counsel of a law professional. Contact an Illinois family law attorney today.