If I left my husband, can he cancel my health insurance and stop supporting me?
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If I left my husband, can he cancel my health insurance and stop supporting me?
I just left my husband of 29 years due to his alcohol dependency and anger problems. He has supported me for 27 years and is threatening to cancel my insurance and stop giving me me money. He would not allow me to work outside the home and is my only income. I am safe and am not ready to take legal action but want to let him know I have spoken to a lawyer.
Asked on June 29, 2011 under Family Law, Michigan
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
While you are married, the law does not specificy what your domestic or financial arrangements have to be. So yes, the primary breadwinner or earner could stop providing money to the other spouse; he could also stop providing health insurance, though he can't stop a policy in the middle of a policy year unless one of the specific events justifying a change or discontinuation of coverage occurs (and generally, living apart while still being married would not qualify to let him cut the coverage mid-year, though he could possibly decline to cover you at renewal time).
However, if you divorce him, in the divorce, based on what you write, you would very likely be awarded spousal support (alimony); you would get a share of the marital assets; and he might be ordered to subsidize health coverage. You should speak with a divorce attorney right away. Good luck.
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