First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Marriage marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, also met with changes like navigating joint accounts, coordinating family holidays and re-evaluating your healthcare coverage.
Stuck on the health insurance part? Let’s answer some of those questions about what to do next.
Do my spouse and I have to be on the same health insurance plan?
The short answer is no. Getting married doesn’t mean you are required to be on the same health insurance plan. If you both have individual coverage you love, you can keep it.
Is it cheaper to be on the same health insurance plan?
It depends. In some cases, yes, but not always.
For example, if one spouse is generally healthy but the other has extensive medical needs, it might be more cost-effective for the healthier spouse to be on a lower cost I while the other has a different plan that better suits their needs.
Many other factors impact whether joint or individual plans are more affordable, so it is important to understand your options before deciding.
What are our health insurance options?
Health insurance can be obtained in many ways, including employer-sponsored plans, and individual or family plans purchased on the Health Insurance Marketplace (HIM). Possible routes to consider:
- One spouse adds the other to their employer-sponsored coverage on an employee/spouse plan
- You both maintain separate coverage through your employer-sponsored plans
- One of you maintains individual employer-sponsored coverage while the other purchases individual health insurance. Note: If you have access to a family health insurance plan through your spouse but choose to purchase through the Marketplace instead, you may become ineligible for certain Marketplace tax credits.
What should I consider before changing my health insurance plan?
If you’re considering changing your health insurance plan now that you’re married, key features to consider are:
- Are your doctors in the new carrier’s network?
- Cost of monthly premiums
- Copayments or coinsurance
- Annual deductibles
- Out-of-pocket maximums
Want more information on what these terms mean? We’ve got a guide for that.
Can I stay on my parents’ health insurance if I’m married?
Yes. If you are under age 26, you can remain on your parents’ health insurance plan even if you get married, but when you turn 26, you will have to get your own health insurance plan.
Do I need to notify my health insurance that I got married?
Not necessarily, but there are a few reasons you would want to. Getting married is a qualifying life event (QLE), meaning you could be eligible to enroll in a new plan or make changes to your health insurance plan – like adding your spouse – outside the standard open enrollment period (OEP).
This Special Enrollment Period (SEP) varies based on the QLE. For marriage, it is within 60 days of getting married.
Another reason to notify your health insurance company is if you are changing your name. For employer-sponsored plans, contact your group plan administrator or, for , the insurance company directly to find out how to make this update.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Getting married is an exciting – and busy – time. Let us help take something off your plate by guiding you down the InsideTrack to the best health insurance options for you.
To connect with our team of health insurance experts, call 800-392-2583 or visit an ArkansasBlue Welcome Center near you.