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Going through a divorce can be emotionally and financially draining, and it can have a prolonged impact if you lose your health insurance. Medical debt is a leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States1, so it’s essential to figure out health insurance after a divorce. Aflac supplemental insurance policies can help you bridge insurance coverage gaps after a divorce. Read on to learn more about your health insurance options after a major life transition like divorce.
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If you share a health insurance plan with an ex-spouse or you have a family plan, divorce can significantly change your situation. Here are some examples:
Health insurance can be included as part of a divorce settlement. If you risk losing your health insurance, you may ask your ex-spouse to provide health insurance for you and your children. Insurers may charge more to keep an ex-spouse on the policy, so it may require some negotiation in the settlement.
If you need to get a new health insurance plan after a divorce, you may have several options, including the following:
COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which allows you to temporarily continue your group health coverage after a qualifying event, such as a divorce or losing a job.2 You may have to pay the entire premium (both yours and the employer’s contribution), so it tends to be expensive, but it can be a simple way to help keep your current plan active temporarily.
Public health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is available during open enrollment periods or after qualifying life events like divorce at Healthcare.gov. These government-backed plans allow you to get health insurance without being employed.
Medicaid is a government program that’s regulated by each individual state. Generally, eligibility is determined by age or income level. You can use the federal government’s tools to determine if you’re eligible for Medicaid or if your children are eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).3
If your employer offers health insurance, divorce typically qualifies for Special Enrollment. This means you don’t have to wait for the Open Enrollment period to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan, which usually makes it the simplest way to get health insurance after divorce.
Short-term health insurance offers fewer benefits and federal protections than more comprehensive plans, but it may be an inexpensive short-term solution. Coverage typically lasts up to three months with no exclusion period for benefits, but there are often extensive coverage limitations for pre-existing conditions and health services like prescription drugs, preventative screenings, and emergency services.4
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with coverage from Aflac.
Get StartedDependent children are typically still eligible for coverage under either parent’s plan, so a divorce may not impact their coverage at all. You may opt to keep your children on one spouse’s plan, or if you decide to get your own family plan, you may insure your children under both plans. In this case, coordination of benefits (COB) typically dictates that the insurer for the parent with primary custody of the children pays benefits first, and then other plan kicks in.5
After a divorce, it’s a good time to assess your needs and ensure you have the necessary coverage. Aflac supplemental health insurance policies can pay cash benefits to help cover costs that are not covered by your primary health insurance. These policies could come in handy if you have to get a less comprehensive plan after falling off your spouse’s insurance. Aflac offers a variety of policies for individuals and families, including:
Divorce will likely change your life in many ways. But if you lose health insurance coverage, it’s crucial to get a new plan as soon as possible. Aflac’s supplemental insurance policies for individuals and families can help provide additional financial support. Chat with an agent to discuss how supplemental insurance can help you after a divorce and get a quote today.
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Hospital indemnity insurance can help pay for costs your current plan doesn't cover. Learn what hospital indemnity insurance is and whether it's right for you.
Cancer insurance can help you pay for cancer-related costs your health insurance doesn’t cover. Learn more about whether insurance covers cancer treatments.
Hospital indemnity insurance can help pay for costs your current plan doesn't cover. Learn what hospital indemnity insurance is and whether it's right for you.
Cancer insurance can help you pay for cancer-related costs your health insurance doesn’t cover. Learn more about whether insurance covers cancer treatments.
1 Debt.org – Bankruptcy Statistics. Updated March 24, 2025. Accessed June 5, 2025. https://www.debt.org/bankruptcy/statistics/.
2 U.S. Department of Labor – Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA). Accessed June 5, 2025. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra.
3 USA.gov – How to apply for Medicaid and CHIP. Updated April 14, 2025. Accessed June 5, 2025. https://www.usa.gov/medicaid-chip-insurance.
4 NerdWallet – What Is Short-Term Health Insurance? Updated February 24, 2025. Accessed June 5, 2025. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/health/short-term-health-insurance.
5 MetLife – Coordination of Benefits: How it Works & Why it Matters. Published Mar 14, 2025. Accessed Jul 15, 2025. https://www.metlife.com/stories/benefits/coordination-of-benefits/.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac Coverage:
Accident, A36000 series: In Idaho, Policies A36100ID–A36400ID, & A363OFID. In Virginia, Policies A36100VA – A36400VA, & A363OFVA. A37000 series: In Delaware, Policy A371AA & A371BA. In Oklahoma, Policy A37000OK. A38000 series: In Delaware Policies A38100DE – A38300DE & A382OFDE, In Oklahoma A38100OK – A38300OK & A382OFOK. In Virginia Policies A38100VA – A38300VA & A382OFVA.
Cancer/Specified-Disease, B70000 series: In Delaware, Policies B70100DE, B70200DE & B70300DE. In Idaho, Policies B70100ID, B70200ID, B70300ID, B7010EPID, B7020EPID. In Oklahoma, Policies B70100OK, B70200OK, B70300OK, B7010EPOK, B7020EPOK. 75000 series: In Virginia, policies A75100VA–A75300VA. Cancer insurance is also known as specified disease insurance in some states.
Critical Illness/Specified Health Event, A74000 series: In Delaware, Policies A74100DE, A74200DE, A74300DE. In Idaho, Policies A74100ID, A74200ID, A74300ID. In Oklahoma, Policies A74100OK, A74200OK, A74300OK. In Virginia, Policies A74100VA, A74200VA, A74300VA. A73000 series: In Delaware, Policies A73100DE & A7310HDE. In Idaho, Policies A73100ID & A7310HID. In Oklahoma, Policies A73100OK & A7310HOK. In Virginia, Policy A73100VA & A7310HVA. B71000 series: In Delaware, Policies B71100, B71200, B7130H & B7140H. In Oklahoma, Policies B71100OK & B7110HOK.
Dental, A82000 series: In Delaware, Policies A82100R–A82400R. In Idaho, Policies A82100RID–A82400RID. In Oklahoma, Policies A82100ROK–A82400ROK. In Virginia, Policies A82100RVA–A82400RVA.
Hospital, B40000 series: In Delaware, Polici
es B40100DE & B4010HDE. In Idaho, Policies B40100ID & B4010HID. In Oklahoma, Policies B40100OK & B4010HOK. In Pennsylvania, Policies B40100PA & B4010HPA. In Virginia, Policies B40100VA & B4010HVA.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Tier One Coverage:
Accident, T37000 series: In Delaware, Policy T37000. In Idaho, Policies T37100ID, T37200ID, & T37300ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T37000OK. In Virginia, Policies T37100VA, T37200VA, T37300VA, T37400VA & T37600VA.
Cancer/Specified Disease plans, T70000 series: In Delaware, Policy T70000. In Idaho, Policy T70000ID. In Oklahoma T70000OK, In Virginia, policies T70000VA & T70000GVA.
Critical Illness, T71000 series: In Delaware, Policy T71000. In Oklahoma, Policy T71000OK. In Virginia, Policy T71100VA.
Dental, Vision and Hearing: In Delaware, Policy T80000. In Idaho, Policy T80000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T80000OK. Not available NY or VA. Dental claims are administered by SKYGEN USA, LLC. Vision claims are administered by EyeMed Vision Care, LLC. Hearing claims are administered by Nations Hearing. NOTICE: The coverage offered is not a qualified health plan (QHP) under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and is not required to satisfy essential health benefits mandates of the ACA. The coverage provides limited benefits.
Tier One coverage is underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance Company does business as Tier One Life Insurance Company (NAIC 92908).
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY, VA or VT. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
Aflac WWHQ | Tier One Insurance Company | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999
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