What attracted you to your spouse? Was it his devilish sense of humor? Her warmth and abilities to be a fine mother? His strength and intelligence? Her beauty and sexiness?
Today, we find couples tying the knot for another reason: excellent health insurance.
Bo and Dena McLain of Milford, Ohio, eloped in March so he could add her to his group policy because her nursing school required proof of insurance. Corey Marshall and Kim Wetzel, who had dated in San Francisco for four years, moved up their wedding plans by a year so she could switch to his policy after her employer raised premiums.
We can argue what exactly we should do to change it all. But, are there very many out there who disagree with the proposition that our entire system of health care and insurance is in dire need of complete overhaul?
Who wants to hear their adult child phone home and breathlessly announce: “Mom and Dad; I found my future spouse! He has Blue Cross/Blue Shield with no deductible!”
Oy.
They’d been living together for four years. I don’t think that this can be seen as insurance being the motivation for marriage, but the motivation for getting married rather than “shacking up”.
Sigh.
I should probably just skip the marriage rant.
Yet if we remove all motivation for getting married, why would anyone do it? It’s not necessary for “living together” and it’s not necessary for combining economic resources, and it’s not necessary for having children anymore. There’s no reason at all to bother.
Except health insurance.