If you and your spouse are on the same health insurance plan it is possible you may lose this insurance, since a person’s ability to get health insurance through your spouse is often predicated on the fact that you are married. In the event that this is the case, it doesn’t always mean that your spouse will no longer have to include you in their health care coverage. In the state of New York, under the Domestic Relations Law, section 236(B), the court has the ability to intervene. In certain instances, a court will issue an order that a party must not only purchase their former spouse a policy of insurance but also maintain that policy. This can be the case in regards to providing benefits for health, hospital care, and the like.

While the court does have this power and exercises it regularly, the “maintaining” of the insurance is not for an indefinite period of time. There is a limitation for how long a court can require an individual to cover the health insurance of their former spouse. This duration is set forth by the court during the divorce, and by law, this duration of time cannot exceed the length of time that spousal support (maintenance), or child support payments have been ordered.

If you are required to pay for your former spouse’s health insurance, COBRA is a plan that has been utilized by many and is a good option for you to obtain the needed benefits. It should be noted that in the state of New York if you are to be not eligible for COBRA benefits, for any reason, this alone will not be enough to be relieved from your court-appointed obligation to your former spouse.

However, a court can just as easily rule that both parties must be responsible for their own health care coverage. In this case, neither party would be obligated to cover the other’s health insurance. Mitigating factors such as income and children can also play a role in whether or not a court will order health care coverage.