One of the most controversial pieces of legislation in modern history is the Affordable Care Act. In the United States, the idea of a government mandated health care plan did not sit well with libertarians or with conservatives. Politics aside, the Affordable Care Act has had a tremendous impact on family law.
Aside from housing, health care can be the costliest monthly expense for the American family. Often, one spouse depends upon the other spouse’s job to provide health care coverage. However, once a judgment of dissolution is entered, coverage no longer extends to the nonemployee spouse.
The newly uninsured party is faced with the burden of purchasing a health care plan on the open market, often at staggering expense. And, the cost of health care is a factor which can affect both spousal and child support calculations.
If the newly uninsured party winds up having to pay huge amounts for a health plan, that party’s support would be adjusted upward to cover the additional cost. The result is that the supporting party is now faced with a larger support payment to make up for his former spouse’s loss of health insurance.
With the advent of the Affordable Care Act, Californians can secure health care coverage for less than $500 in most instances. The result: both parties to a dissolution are seeing some relief. The supporting spouse may have to pay less support and the supported spouse may have relief from high monthly health care premiums.
While citizens may continue to debate the role of government in people’s lives, the cost/ benefit and the long-term effectiveness of the Affordable Care Act., it has certainly had a very positive affect in family law.
In order to understand how the Affordable Care Act affects your divorce, it is very important to speak to a knowledgeable attorney in Modesto, CA or Pleasanton, CA.
