Child health coverage

You and your spouse divorce. Divorce means that your children have two houses with two parents caring for children at different times. It is important that children have health insurance when in the care of both parents. Doing this can be complicated and you play an important role during the divorce settlement negotiations.

What you will have to determine is how both will work together to keep the health insurance for your children.

Below are some things you need to know:

Who is responsible.

You will be responsible; your ex-spouse liable? This might depend on whether either of you has a group health coverage through your employer. If the health of the group is not available you will decide how you plan to keep the baby and that will cost. If the insurance must be purchased to both parents would share the cost with each share in a certain portion of co-pays. The important thing is that this problem to negotiate and then get it in writing in your final decree of divorce.

If you both have health coverage.

Double coverage on both plans means that the child is protected, no matter which parent are with. The plans cover would be designated as "primary" and "secondary". The secondary plan would cover many of the costs not covered by the main floor. All you need to do is decide which parent carries the primary and most insurance companies have a formula or rule that will help you make the decision.

If your child has medical problems.

If the child has a pre-existing medical condition an individual's health care plan can cover the child, but they refuse to pay all the costs relating to pre-existing conditions. You should make every effort to maintain any group health plans available to you or your former spouse. Group plans are just plans not allowed to refuse your child or limit coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

Paying co-pays.

Along with who is responsible for health care coverage that pays co-pays also should be decided. Most parents choose to pay a percentage of all co-pays. For example, the custodial parent may be responsible for 25% of medical expenses out of pocket and the non-custodial parent is responsible for 75% of medical expenses out of pocket. This figure is normally based on which parent can afford to take on the cost more.

Be careful though, just because it's written in a final judgment of divorce does not mean they will follow both parents with what was agreed. Once you and your ex-spouse reach agreement who pays what amount against co-pays, you need to make a contract with your child's doctor. The billing Office at the Office of your child's doctor is not concerned with what it says your divorce final grade. They are concerned to obtain the money owed to them.

If you are the person who takes the child to the doctor, will take into account is the person responsible for paying co-pays and expect to pay them in full. They are not legally a part of out of pocket expenses and then bill your ex-spouse for his part, unless an agreement is filed with the Office billing. That the contract must indicate that you are being billed separately for a predetermined percentage of the Bill and the contract must be signed by both parents. Doing this keeps both parents be held liable if the other parent refuses to pay the sum agreed to co-pay. Prevents billing Office coming after you and, if you fail to pay keeps them from being able to deliver to collections or, worse, reporting the debt on your credit report.

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