Over a million couples will be engaged this holiday season, and for good reason. The holidays bring families together to test the strengths of relationships between loved ones. Couple are introduced to family and friends, and the romance of the Christmas season quickly followed by the celebration of the New Year all add to your future partner dropping down on one knee this time of year. Or, maybe not.
While the season is indeed romantic, these may not be any of the reasons surrounding your most recent engagement.
Many men and women have decided to marry solely for the purpose of healthcare. As featured by CNN.com a short-term couple decided to marry after the woman received a generous medical plan from her recent employer. While many may gasp at the thought that marriages ‘on the fly’ are desecrating the sanction of holy matrimony it may be more of a reason to marry than any. In fact, is it such a bad thing to want to secure the health and well being of your loved one?
A New York Times article puts the growing popularity of these types of unions nicely by saying: “Though money and matrimony have been linked since Genesis, marrying for health coverage is a more modern convention. For today’s couples, “in sickness and in health” may seem less a lover’s troth than an actuarial contract. They marry for better or worse, for richer or poorer, for co-pays and deductibles.”
Many insurance plans will recognize a domestic partnership as grounds for dual coverage but not all states are willing to give out domestic partnership affidavits leaving the couple no choice but to marry. It is a striking realization to know that couples’ around the country feel the need to rush to the altar only secure that they will be protected in a time of ill health.
It may not be the actual marriages that are a cause for concern but the reason itself. Is this really what we, as Americans must resort to in order to live comfortably and free of worry? While people all over the country get engaged this season, the well being of one another is of the utmost importance. Why must it be a young couples’ worry to force a committed relationship in order to provide insurance for one another?
Stay happy and healthy this holiday season and surround yourself with people you love.