Me and my fiancée are moving to Rhode Island for my work at the end of the year and I’ll be getting BCBS of Rhode Island and I was wondering if I could still add her when I enroll in health insurance even though we aren’t married yet.

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FunnyFilmFan t1_iuh3a5p wrote on October 31, 2022 at 8:05 AM

My understanding is that policy is set by your employer, not the state.

buddhamanjpb t1_iuhcybc wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:30 AM

It is, but it's also up to your company and the health insurance provider.

wormholeweapons t1_iuhjo4q wrote on October 31, 2022 at 11:49 AM

It’s decided by your employer.

Specific-Objective68 t1_iui3dst wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:34 PM

Rhode Island recognizes common law marriage, which means in the eyes of the state and insurance you would be married. I was on my wife's insurance that way for years before we officially tied the knot.

FuriouslyFurious007 t1_iuh0ve8 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:27 AM

Yes

Zbofanaccount- OP t1_iuh0wo0 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:28 AM

Even if we aren’t a same sex couple? Awesome!!

FuriouslyFurious007 t1_iuh1t84 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 7:42 AM

BCBS advised me of certain criteria to qualify (i.e. length of time in relationship, living together, joint mortgage, joint bank account, etc...) I would check with your employer's HR or check with BCBS directly to make sure.

SuddenlySimple t1_iuhcq6b wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:27 AM

I'm not sure if the "yes" answer is correct because my step son is getting married this Wed. in the backyard ONLY because his girlfriend of MANY years...needs health insurance.

And I believe that if he could get her health insurance without marrying her he would.

Also, his Mother worked for the State of Rhode Island and his Mother really doesn't want him to be "married" to this girl.....because she will be the inheritor of all they have if something were to happen. And I know the Mother is not fond of this girl so if there were a way to get her on the Insurance without marriage, I would think this Mom would know about it....and they would not be getting married in her backyard tomorrow.

FuriouslyFurious007 t1_iuhdqdb wrote on October 31, 2022 at 10:40 AM

I am telling you, I have BCBS and I was able to get my girlfriend onto my policy as a domestic partner.

SuddenlySimple t1_iuhgvt7 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 11:19 AM

Cool. So possibly it depends on the insurance company. Because I know for a fact that my stepson would not marry her if he didn't feel like he HAD to....he literally told me this the other day....it was only for the health insurance.....

Zbofanaccount- OP t1_iuhwk1o wrote on October 31, 2022 at 1:44 PM

And would I register her as my domestic partner when I enroll or do I need to do that beforehand

FuriouslyFurious007 t1_iui1j0q wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:21 PM

I don't know that, unfortunately. In my situation, I already had a BCBS plan and just added her to it.

Zbofanaccount- OP t1_iui23gf wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:25 PM

If you wouldn’t mind me asking was it during the open enrollment or was it qualified as a major life even somehow?

FuriouslyFurious007 t1_iui6day wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:55 PM

They were busting my balls about major life event, so had to wait till open enrollment.

anchoredinRI t1_iuhuqix wrote on October 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM

BCBS will but when I worked in MA I had to pay an imputed income tax on it which wound up being like $500/month so definitely talk to your HR about it.

SluggDaddy t1_iuhvrfr wrote on October 31, 2022 at 1:38 PM

Pretty sure it depends on what plans your employer contracts with BCBS to offer. My spouse has a BCBS plan and the next year her employer negotiated to add spousal coverage. So it’s not guaranteed by law but by contract. Talk to HR