Providing health insurance for children after a divorce is a critical factor that needs to be considered by both parents and the courts.
Federal and state laws are in place that require parents to ensure that dependent children have adequate coverage when it comes to their healthcare needs.
Health insurance is just one way that Georgia’s courts and parents can look after the best interests of children. But it must be done in a way that’s efficient and accommodates the needs of all parties.
The following will help you determine the best options when deciding how to provide healthcare coverage for your child after your divorce.
An experienced family law attorney can guide you through the process and help you understand your legal rights and responsibilities.
Common Issues Related to Child Healthcare in Divorce
Providing health insurance to children after a divorce can be a complex process. There are a number of factors to consider that can lead to issues that affect children and parents.
The courts have several options when determining who’ll be responsible for providing children with health care coverage. Deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs must also be considered.
There are also additional expenses that many insurance providers don’t cover, which further adds to the complexity of divorce cases involving children.
Requirements for Child Health Insurance After Divorce
Decisions related to the health care needs of children are made by the courts and are often based on the decisions made by parents.
But in some cases, parents may not agree on how to cover costs related medical and dental expenses. Courts can implement a review of the parents’ financial history to determine how much each parent can contribute to the costs of these and other health care services.
There are a number of court orders that may be issued by the courts. Parents who aren’t insured through their employers may be required to purchase an affordable private insurance plan that includes their children.
Noncustodial parents can also be required to include children in their insurance plans if this coverage is provided by their employers.
One of the parents may need to cover all of the child’s medical expenses. This typically results from unequal financial circumstances, and the courts may also divide the financial responsibility on a percentage basis.
Primary and secondary health insurance plans and the use of CHIP or Medicaid coverage may also be utilized in some cases.
Other Factors to Consider
The divorce agreement will generally outline the responsibilities of each parent in providing health care coverage to children.
The eligibility of children for coverage remains in place after a divorce. This includes cases in which the noncustodial parent has provided this coverage.
Parents in pending divorce cases also have the right to remove spouses from health insurance plans before the divorce has been finalized.
But the state of Georgia does have laws in place that can prevent this from occurring, which benefits any parent who may be at risk of losing health care coverage.
The courts may also require one spouse to maintain healthcare coverage for the other parent or contribute some portion of payment for that coverage. The cost of healthcare coverage may also influence decisions made on alimony payments as well.
Providing health insurance for children after a divorce is just one of the ways that parents and Georgia’s courts can look after the best interests of children. But the rules can be complex and difficult to understand without the help of a qualified attorney.
Consulting with a legal expert gives you the resources you need to look after the wellbeing of your child while protecting your legal rights in Georgia.