Co-workers discussing getting a legal divorce just to qualify for Peach Care

[*Seanaci*]

This could fall under fraud. Not saying the rise in premiums and co-pays won't be painful or cause a cut somewhere else, but it kinda sounds like getting married for a green card or in the military for benefits/less duty or when military marry someone from a foreign country.

Unfortunately, I think there is going to be more squeezing of everyone because this country is in a financial mess.


Growing up we were to poor to make it but too rich to get help. Some how we made it. My mom went without. Now, we teach our kids the difference between needs/wants and how to budget with priority(what is important to you).

It is unethical, and committing fraud. I personally find it appalling. If you have to lie to get it, then you deserve whatever the consequences will be when you get caught.

How is it fraud and how would anyone get 'caught?'

As I understand it, there are different benefits available to married and unmarried people. They're married, they'd prefer the benefits available to the unmarried, they're considering divorcing to qualify.

They'd then be unmarried. How would that be fraud? Or anything that they could get caught doing? They divorce, they're no longer married, hence different qualification.

People get married all the time because the tax benefits or whatever are better, or to make some inheritance or custody rules easier, what's the difference?

How is it considered fraud? Are you serious?!?! You're getting a divorce, even though you are happily married still, so that you can get cheaper health benefits in whatever form you can get them as a now divorced person. That's fraud.

From the posts on this thread, it sounds as though you aren't the only one considering this a viable option to keep your out of pocket health expenses down. I am appalled by that. And have a feeling if this thread (heck, there may be other forums out there with a thread discussion such as this) was ever seen by someone in the government, they would most likely look into all the divorces that took place between now and the time they caught on.

I see it this way, my husband is the one who brings home the money. He is the one who pays our health insurance through deductions on his paycheck. Health insurance goes up every year. Our co-pay goes up every year or two. If I have to pay $50 to see my doctor I'll do it. That's a small price to pay compared to what you are considering doing.

Seriously?!?! Divorce to lower your co-pay...even though you're happily married?!?! It's crazy.

 

[GaDisneyFreak]

I am divorced. I've done the family court thing, I know how it works. At least in my state. Child support is based on a combination of income and over night visits. So, yes, if the over nights are 50/50 then there is no child support. Insurance is a totally different thing. Someone is always ordered to insure the child. The state doesn't want to pay for it. If only one parent carries private insurance, then they are ordered to insure the child. If both parents carry it then it is either decided between the parties or by the judge if they disagree. All out of pocket expenses are split on a percentage based on income.

No state is going to foot the bill for state insurance if the child can be covered privately.

My ex had a friend that was actually arrested because he didn't provide proof of insurance for his daughter. He had her insured, but didn't send the paperwork in.

I know several women at work with me who have their kids on Peachcare, and not on our insurance we have through work. So yes, the state of Georgia will foot the bill for insurance, for the most part, even if the child can be covered privately!

 

[Colleen27]

I know several women at work with me who have their kids on Peachcare, and not on our insurance we have through work. So yes, the state of Georgia will foot the bill for insurance, for the most part, even if the child can be covered privately!

There is an affordability test - the state doesn't demand that people spend their entire paycheck on insurance just because it is offered. You can also, at least in my state, have both so that CHIPs will provide coverage for what the private plan doesn't (deductibles, co-pays, and sometimes excluded treatments).

 

[lorax123]

I live in pa and went through a divorce over 16 years ago, so this policy may have changed...

My ex moved over 200 miles west of where we had been living when we were together. I was ordered to provide health insurance, since the ex had not established herself in the area. But, insurance coverage wouldn't cover our daughter outside of the area I was living. Since they were out of network, I would have had to pay insurance oop. But by paying out of pocket, the price of insurance would hve been deducted from the child support. I don't know if the situation would be the same now.

I have read on some web sites, that the state will do whatever it takes to have a parent provide health insurance for dependants, if those dependants are on a state provided plan (such as CHIP in pa). I think that is more of a direct result of some parents claiming they are split from the child's other parent in order to take the state benefits. Even in situations where the child's primary parent doesn't want to take support of any kind from the non-custodial parent, the state will intervene. Unless a hardship can be proven, the state will force both parents to cooperate.

I don't see this being a smart move by any family, tryin to play the system could cost you more than just paying for the benefits an employer, or you can provide. There are some families that really do need this benefit and being a scammer just makes the system more difficult to navigate, since they need to have checks to keep this from happening.