Must I now get health insurance from my employer?

Will it burden my employer if I add my spouse to my health insurance even though she can get her own?

• My spouse currently has insurance through her employer. We are discussing adding her to my insurance. I was wondering if it is a burden to my employer if I add her to my insurance. What is considered 'ethical' in such situations?

• Answer:

  This isn't an ethics question. There's no morality to it. As to burdening the employer, it depends on their program, and how much they would contribute towards her coverage. Many, many employers, pay HALF the cost of insurance for the employee, but NONE or very little of the cost of the spouse and/or kids. So, if they aren't kicking in towards her insurance premium, it's no burden at all on you. BUT. You can ONLY add her or delete her, during open enrollment, unless there's a qualifying event. So once you add her, she's there until next open enrollment - unless she dies or you two become divorced.