Some couples marrying for health insurance

Published: Aug. 13, 2008 at 10:31 AM

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A health policy research group says a poll it conducted this spring indicates health insurance is the reason some U.S. residents are getting married.

The Kaiser Family Foundation says 7 percent of adult respondents in its survey reported someone in their household had married during the past year in order to gain access to medical insurance, The New York Times said Wednesday.

The foundation cautions that the poll numbers shouldn't be taken literally but rather as an intriguing indicator that some Americans "are making major life decisions on the basis of health care concerns."

A case in point is Brandy Brady and Rick Huggins who met in Lake Charles, La., last February and decided to marry two months later, the Times said. Aside from romance, the couple told the Times that Huggins' health insurance policy is behind their rush to the altar.

Stephen L.J. Hoffman, an officiant at a wedding chapel in Kentucky, says he is no longer shocked that 1-in-10 couples cite health insurance as the reason for their marriage, the newspaper report said.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
NHL: Nashville 4, Colorado 3 (OT) (7 min)
CDC: H1N1 pneumococcal infection worrisome (8 min)
NBA: Phoenix 126, Memphis 111 (14 min)
NBA: Dallas 130, Houston 99 (19 min)
COL BKB: Duke 64, Arizona State 53 (25 min)
NBA: San Antonio 118, Golden State 104 (30 min)
NHL: St. Louis 4, Dallas 3 (SO) (36 min)
fark
Theme of Farktography Contest No. 238: "Hello Old Friend. It's Nice to Meet You.". Details and rules...
Actual headline: "Atlantis glides home with choked pee nozzle." Subby is hoping that's how his night...
Judge sentences killer to two life sentences plus 498 years
Dundee girlfriend does what any Scotswoman would do in her place
Atheist group asks to put up sign honoring war veterans near Christmas display. Pennsylvania town...
Scientists have now created a baby bottle that heats itself up in 60 seconds. A perfect gift for...