When approaching child support, parents may wonder what they will be required to pay and how medical expenses, for instance, will be handled under their child support arrangement. In general, parents are required to provide for the support of their children. Child support orders state the amount a parent is required to pay for the support of their children and the nature of the child support.
In addition to the amount of child support, child support orders may also address medical expenses that are not part of the ordered child support. A parent may be required to provide health insurance for their child and parents may also be required to share the cost of medical insurance. In addition, a parent may be required to pay all or a part of medical expenses not covered by the medical insurance plan.
A child support order may state the percentage of medical expenses not covered by the medical insurance plan that each parent is required to pay, including uninsured medical expenses. Uninsured medical expenses are considered medical expenses not covered by insurance including co-pays, deductibles and prescriptions as well as medical, dental or vision-related expenses resulting from necessary medical treatments and procedures. When medical expenses are not addressed in a child support order, a child support modification may be necessary.
The way in which medical expenses are handled can vary by state so it is important for parents to be familiar with how their state handles medical expenses in relation to child support obligations. It is important for parents going through the family law process to be fully familiar with it and aware that they are responsible for child support obligations but also for uninsured medical expenses in a variety of situations.
Source: Florida Department of Revenue, “Establishing Orders for Child and Medical Support,” Accessed Dec. 7, 2015