Is Health Care a Marital Asset?
Post-retirement health care coverage and death benefits are also quantifiable as lump-sum values. Because of the new accounting standards passed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, in which health care is viewed as deferred compensation, health care benefits have entered the equitable distribution arena. The Board suggests that the future cost of providing these benefits should be reflected on the company’s current balance sheet. Death benefits typically provided in pure term life insurance are subject to analysis but have yet to be treated by courts as having a lump-sum value unless there is a cash value attached to the policy.
