Spousal Abandonment

Spousal abandonment, in the context of health insurance, refers to a situation where your spouse has left you and you're unable to locate them or get their cooperation to file a joint tax return. This matters for Marketplace coverage because married couples generally must file taxes jointly to qualify for premium tax credits.

The ACA provides an exception: if you're a victim of spousal abandonment, you may be able to file taxes as "married filing separately" and still receive premium tax credits. Without this exception, an abandoned spouse could lose subsidy eligibility simply because they can't get their missing spouse to sign a joint return, punishing the victim.

To claim this exception, you generally indicate on your Marketplace application that you're unable to file jointly due to domestic abuse or spousal abandonment. You don't need a court order or formal legal finding of abandonment, but you should be prepared to provide documentation if asked.

This exception also applies to survivors of domestic abuse, who may not be able to file jointly for safety reasons. Both situations recognize that requiring a joint return would create an unjust barrier to affordable health coverage.

If you're in this situation, don't assume you can't get help with insurance costs. Update your Marketplace application and report your filing status. A navigator, certified application counselor, or licensed agent (like Wise Health Choices) can help you complete the process.