Question
What is the name of your state? GA
My best friend may have created a bad situation. D.R. worked for a major corporation with health benefits. Several years ago, he added his girlfriend to his health insurance as his wife. Four years ago, D.R. took a retirement package, having put in 30 years of service. This year, the company, while undergoing a merger, sent out letters saying that they will be verifying all dependents under the health plan. Two months ago, D.R. married his girlfriend in an attempt to "make things legal" between them. Being that this marriage just took place, there will be no record of it in company records. If he is required to send a copy of his marriage certificate to the insurer, it will show that they were not married during the time she was claimed as a dependent. Even if common-law unions are recognized in GA, they would not be able to prove it as they have both maintained separate legal residences and have both always filed single, head of household on their tax returns. What kind of trouble can they be in?
Answer
Some, very few insurance carriers will allow you to put a significant other on your policy. Lying on a health insurance application is a crime and they could have some trouble ahead. I am not a lawyer, just know a bit about insurance.
I am sure one of the senior members will be along soon and let you know more.
Answer
This is called fraud and he can be in very big trouble. At minimum I would expect him to be expected to repay his employer for any premiums they paid on her behalf while she was illegally on his policy and the insurance carrier for any claims they paid for her. If he is still employed with this employer he can count on losing his job without benefit of unemployment. It's not inconceivable that he could go to jail, if they really wanted to push the issue, though that's not likely to happen.
Your "friend" is one of the reasons insurance premiums are so high for everyone else so I hope they catch him and he gets to pay back all the money others paid on her behalf.
btw, Georgia does not recognize common law marriages unless they were created prior to 1/1/97
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That was what I was thinking, but I wanted confirmation. Thank you very much.
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Okay, now I am purely, vindictively bitchy. LOL LOL LOL! I hope your friend goes to jail. Your friend is an embodiment of exactly why the consumer is one of the PRI**** reasons the health care industry is near collapse. When one defrauds and looks for the equitable personal way out, one escalates the costs for every other law abiding citizen. I hope he goes to jail, I fear he will only be required to repay any monies expended by the insurer. lkc15507