Insurance Coverage Dispute

[WhitneyG]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Missouri
Divorce decree states: "Section 2, paragraph B: Father will maintain health insurance for child".

My soon-to-be husband's divorce decree from his first marriage stated the above language. He has maintained health insurance for his daughter through his own work's insurance for the past 6 years. When we get married in October, we are planning on adding him and his daughter to my insurance plan since my coverage is better. His ex-wife states "Haley stated that you plan on having Jill carry her on insurance after marriage. Just an FYI, that's great, but you still have to be the primary to carry insurance on her, not your spouse." We do not believe that she is accurate; is there any merit to what she says?

Thank you,

Jill Whitney

 

[penelope10]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Missouri
Divorce decree states: "Section 2, paragraph B: Father will maintain health insurance for child".

My soon-to-be husband's divorce decree from his first marriage stated the above language. He has maintained health insurance for his daughter through his own work's insurance for the past 6 years. When we get married in October, we are planning on adding him and his daughter to my insurance plan since my coverage is better. His ex-wife states "Haley stated that you plan on having Jill carry her on insurance after marriage. Just an FYI, that's great, but you still have to be the primary to carry insurance on her, not your spouse." We do not believe that she is accurate; is there any merit to what she says?

Thank you,

Jill Whitney

The language in the Order is specific, it states Dad. I believe the ex wife may be correct in this instance. (Key word is MAY here). Other's may come along with a different stance. It is not unheard of that a new spouse be the one maintaining a health insurance policy on a child, however, the parties were probably in agreement that this was acceptable. This doesn't seem to be the case here...

 

[Farfalla]

Be careful with this. Check the wording of your benefits very carefully. Mine have just changed that I have to have a court order stating that I have to carry insurance for my step children before they can be covered. Or I have to have legal guardianship of them, adopt them, etc. So I have to now drop them from my insurance. A lot of companies are doing this now to save costs. It helps them limit who can be on the plan.

 

[Ohiogal]

The language in the Order is specific, it states Dad. I believe the ex wife may be correct in this instance. (Key word is MAY here). Other's may come along with a different stance. It is not unheard of that a new spouse be the one maintaining a health insurance policy on a child, however, the parties were probably in agreement that this was acceptable. This doesn't seem to be the case here...

WRONG. If stepmom has insurance then DAD is maintaining it by being married to stepmom.

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Missouri
Divorce decree states: "Section 2, paragraph B: Father will maintain health insurance for child".

My soon-to-be husband's divorce decree from his first marriage stated the above language. He has maintained health insurance for his daughter through his own work's insurance for the past 6 years. When we get married in October, we are planning on adding him and his daughter to my insurance plan since my coverage is better. His ex-wife states "Haley stated that you plan on having Jill carry her on insurance after marriage. Just an FYI, that's great, but you still have to be the primary to carry insurance on her, not your spouse." We do not believe that she is accurate; is there any merit to what she says?

Thank you,

Jill Whitney

No there is not merit to what she says. Why is HALEY telling mom what is going on? Why isn't dad? Stepmom can carry the child on her insurance (if insurance allows) and that will count as father's coverage.

 

[WhitneyG]

We have understood the decree to mean that my soon-to-be husband must always verify maintenance of insurance coverage for his daughter, but it is not specifically stated that he must be the primary insured party.

 

[penelope10]

WRONG. If stepmom has insurance then DAD is maintaining it by being married to stepmom.

Thanks for clearing that up! (I was incorrectly making a literal interpretation of the Order)


Like I have said before, that's why you're the Boss!

 

[VeronicaLodge]

Be careful with this. Check the wording of your benefits very carefully. Mine have just changed that I have to have a court order stating that I have to carry insurance for my step children before they can be covered. Or I have to have legal guardianship of them, adopt them, etc. So I have to now drop them from my insurance. A lot of companies are doing this now to save costs. It helps them limit who can be on the plan.

i carry coverage on my step children through work, no problem

 

[VeronicaLodge]

WRONG. If stepmom has insurance then DAD is maintaining it by being married to stepmom.

thanks OG, that is what i was thinking, dad is fulfilling his obligation by making sure his household is somehow providing insurance for squirt and mom doesnt have to carry it.

 

[mistoffolees]

thanks OG, that is what i was thinking, dad is fulfilling his obligation by making sure his household is somehow providing insurance for squirt and mom doesnt have to carry it.

That is correct IF stepmother can get the child on her plan. That is not always possible.

BEFORE dropping the child from his insurance, he needs to verify with SM's plan administrator that the child can be added.

 

[Farfalla]

i carry coverage on my step children through work, no problem

Your plan allows it. Not all plans do.

My point is that it depends on the policy. It's in the newly added fine print on my policy in which the problem occurs. I'm only suggesting that the OP be very careful and make sure she understands the policy.

I used to be able to insure my step children, I no longer can as of this year.