I Promise to Love, Honor, and Cherish Our Medical Insurance PolicyApril 2008
Some people get married for love, others for money, but now there seems to be a small trend growing for those who marry for
health insurance. Yes it's true; couples are so desperate for decent medical insurance that they're getting hitched in order to qualify for a good policy.
A poll released this week by the
Los Angeles Times reveals that 7% of Americans said they or someone in their household decided to marry in the last year "so they could get healthcare benefits via their spouse." It's not a lot of people, but it's enough to cause a stir.
The same poll found that health insurance costs outranked housing costs, rising food prices and credit card bills as a source of concern. And it's no wonder,
medical insurance premiums went up 30% from 2001 to 2005, while during that time incomes increased by only 3%.
With so much of the monthly income eaten up by health care, young couples trying to save money see marriage as a way to save on the bills.
Facts on:
Medical Insurance Policy
Did you know...
A recent poll found that 7% of couples got married in order to qualify for medical insurance?
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Those who cited health insurance costs and health care issues as a factor in deciding to marry tended to be young, and struggling to make ends meet already - not necessarily a recipe for the easiest marriage to begin with. But now we have to ask ourselves, do we really want people getting married so they can save on their medical insurance costs?
On a side note, presumptive Republican presidential candidate John McCain might find such a trend indicative of a rise in his popularity, since his focus on health care has primarily been in lowering costs and making it easier for people to find affordable health insurance.
Hopefully it won't lead to a rash of divorce.
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