My state doesn't require a year long separation but my H requested a THREE year separation so he could avoid paying my insurance out of pocket.
My H filed for divorce and we litigated for 18 months (not out of desire but largely because of the crazy court system in NY). Once he saw that I was not fooling around about what I expected to walk away with as far as assets go AND his affair would be made public he begged me for the separation. In NY once a separation is legally approved you must remain separated but legally married for one year.
A year before my H decided he wanted a divorce I had the opportunity to purchase health insurance via a pool for a *very* reasonable rate. D flipped out saying he was the man and health insurance was his job and was VERY offended I would even broach such a thing. Now that opportunity is gone and due to my Lupus my premiums are high. Plus, the court decided that he has provided health insurance for a decade therefore the precedent was set and separated or divorced that obligation was his to worry about.
For as happy as he claims to be it seems him paying out of pocket for my insurance for a few years would hardly be problematic to him. He makes very good money and it wouldn't strain him all that much.
His desire to separate rather than divorce was two fold... to protect him and OW and to save money on insurance. He got all that for a year. He has had ample time to plan for this new expense.
He also was relieved of MANY consequences due to my compassion (foolishness). I'm done extending courtesies to him when he can't even treat me like a human being.
