Classic: Reads like an AITA (and yes, they are).
After I had an ugly and protracted affair, my husband ended our eight-year marriage. We’ve been living separately for almost four months. Despite many pleas on my part to reconcile, I’ve finally begun to accept that he does not view me as a life partner anymore, for extremely valid reasons. He has drawn up and sent me some very equitable divorce papers and has displayed a lot of patience about my taking some time to sign them. I’m currently employed as a freelancer at a prestigious publication; I’ve been here for more than a year but don’t yet have employee benefits—most pressingly, health insurance. I have gotten some vague promises that I am “next in line” for a staff position but no hard timing and no indication of a move in that direction. I am reliant on my estranged husband’s health insurance to control an intense anxiety disorder and for therapy to help process my feelings on our split. While so much of me is not ready to give up on him, I want to set him free to pursue someone who can be faithful to him and can appreciate him fully. But on the other hand, I don’t want to saddle myself with crippling financial burdens just to maintain my precarious mental health. Is it moral to delay the divorce process until I can secure employee benefits? Should I be looking for another job, even though the stability of a job I love is one of the few bright spots in my life right now?
Re: Classic: Reads like an AITA (and yes, they are).
Your H owes you NOTHING and you are doing no favors in this agreement clinging to the marriage for nothing other than the health insurance benefit.
Also, he can drop LW from his plan w/o the divorce if he doesn't pick them up in the next open enrollment. Furthermore, LW could be seen as defrauding their ex if they are found to not be proceeding with the divorce because of this. Do I think it will lead to real charges or anything? No. But if the judge views it that way, it could affect LW in any settlement.
Another cautionary tale, the kiddo's mom went to jail for bigamy and insurance fraud for not being fully divorced from her 4th husband before marrying #5 and was still using/trying to use #4's insurance. It happened when the kiddo was living with her a couple years ago. It's probably one of my favorite stories to tell people to shock them and also explain who we're talking about when it comes to his mom. I should try to look up her info on public databases and see what her rap sheet looks like.