What is considered reasonable (medical bill co pay)

[bobblehead]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I guess this isn't a legal question completely, more in need of unbiased opinions. In our custody orders the ex and I are to split medical bills, co-pays, etc 50%. It has been that way since the divorce. He has never offered to pay, nor have I went to him for the cash. However, things have changed and the co-pays have been crazy since the first of the year. I am not going back years asking for his half but, I am asking for his half since the first of this year. The total he would owe is just over $1,500.00. My lawyer said to give him 30 days (which is the amount of time I had to pay each) after I send him copies of the bills to pay a reasonable amount. I do not feel $1,500 in 30 days is reasonable. I was thinking I should break it up into either 3 or 6, making it $250 or $500 in a month. Would that be considered reasonable?

I have asked for his help for 3 months. He paid a $17 medical bill, the smallest bill at the time. Because of this I took out a $19 bill from the stack. I will be honest and say I will be hitting him with contempt if he doesn't pay. However, I want it to be a reasonable amount in a reasonable amount of time.

My plan is to send x amount to him to pay me in 30 days, along with a letter stating x amount is the total he owes but I am breaking it up for him. I will be sending the cancelled checks (acct number blacked out) so that there is no "confusion" he owes me.

So, as for the questions:
- What is a reasonable amount to ask for?
-Should I break it up or should I ask for the full amount, but with more time? If so, how much time would be considered reasonable?

I want to be fair in giving him the chance to pay his half. He makes $20 an hour @ 40 hours/week. I don't know his bills other than no car payment. As I have said, I have asked him for his half, I have already given him copies of the bills and he ignores it.

 

[Antigone*]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I guess this isn't a legal question completely, more in need of unbiased opinions. In our custody orders the ex and I are to split medical bills, co-pays, etc 50%. It has been that way since the divorce. He has never offered to pay, nor have I went to him for the cash. However, things have changed and the co-pays have been crazy since the first of the year. I am not going back years asking for his half but, I am asking for his half since the first of this year. The total he would owe is just over $1,500.00. My lawyer said to give him 30 days (which is the amount of time I had to pay each) after I send him copies of the bills to pay a reasonable amount. I do not feel $1,500 in 30 days is reasonable. I was thinking I should break it up into either 3 or 6, making it $250 or $500 in a month. Would that be considered reasonable?

I have asked for his help for 3 months. He paid a $17 medical bill, the smallest bill at the time. Because of this I took out a $19 bill from the stack. I will be honest and say I will be hitting him with contempt if he doesn't pay. However, I want it to be a reasonable amount in a reasonable amount of time.

My plan is to send x amount to him to pay me in 30 days, along with a letter stating x amount is the total he owes but I am breaking it up for him. I will be sending the cancelled checks (acct number blacked out) so that there is no "confusion" he owes me.

So, as for the questions:
- What is a reasonable amount to ask for?
-Should I break it up or should I ask for the full amount, but with more time? If so, how much time would be considered reasonable?

I want to be fair in giving him the chance to pay his half. He makes $20 an hour @ 40 hours/week. I don't know his bills other than no car payment. As I have said, I have asked him for his half, I have already given him copies of the bills and he ignores it.

Listen to your attorney. That is why you pay him/her.

 

[Silverplum]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I guess this isn't a legal question completely, more in need of unbiased opinions. In our custody orders the ex and I are to split medical bills, co-pays, etc 50%. It has been that way since the divorce. He has never offered to pay, nor have I went to him for the cash. However, things have changed and the co-pays have been crazy since the first of the year. I am not going back years asking for his half but, I am asking for his half since the first of this year. The total he would owe is just over $1,500.00. My lawyer said to give him 30 days (which is the amount of time I had to pay each) after I send him copies of the bills to pay a reasonable amount. I do not feel $1,500 in 30 days is reasonable. I was thinking I should break it up into either 3 or 6, making it $250 or $500 in a month. Would that be considered reasonable?

I have asked for his help for 3 months. He paid a $17 medical bill, the smallest bill at the time. Because of this I took out a $19 bill from the stack. I will be honest and say I will be hitting him with contempt if he doesn't pay. However, I want it to be a reasonable amount in a reasonable amount of time.

My plan is to send x amount to him to pay me in 30 days, along with a letter stating x amount is the total he owes but I am breaking it up for him. I will be sending the cancelled checks (acct number blacked out) so that there is no "confusion" he owes me.

So, as for the questions:
- What is a reasonable amount to ask for?
-Should I break it up or should I ask for the full amount, but with more time? If so, how much time would be considered reasonable?

I want to be fair in giving him the chance to pay his half. He makes $20 an hour @ 40 hours/week. I don't know his bills other than no car payment. As I have said, I have asked him for his half, I have already given him copies of the bills and he ignores it.

If you haven't TOLD him about the medical bills, and SENT him copies, then you have no right whatsoever to expect a single penny. That's simply ridiculous.

Put yourself into his shoes. Really. And stay there for a few minutes, thinking.

Is what you're doing fair?

The medical bills you have told him about and sent copies, give him 30 days. But the ones you kept to yourself? Your choice, your dime.

 

[bobblehead]

I have given him copies of the bills from this year. What I haven't given him, he has given me and I still paid. Basically, he has known about every single bill (from this year-hence why I won't go back any further). He picked up insurance in January, our insurances got into a turf war, my insurance took money back from OT, PT and speech therapy. Once it got settled on who pays first, etc the bills started to come in. Every bill I have gotten from this, he has gotten a copy of. His insurance sent him a few bills and he gave me copies of them (without paying anything on). I also paid them. It was in May the bills started coming in, which is when I started telling him I needed him to do his half.

Honestly, I wouldn't ask him for bill money he knew nothing about. I haven't asked him in over 3 years to help so, him not helping is partly my fault. When I first asked he told me it was my place to do it. I pointed out the 50%.

When I asked what was reasonable I never got an answer.

 

[Silverplum]

I have given him copies of the bills from this year. What I haven't given him, he has given me and I still paid. Basically, he has known about every single bill (from this year-hence why I won't go back any further). He picked up insurance in January, our insurances got into a turf war, my insurance took money back from OT, PT and speech therapy. Once it got settled on who pays first, etc the bills started to come in. Every bill I have gotten from this, he has gotten a copy of. His insurance sent him a few bills and he gave me copies of them (without paying anything on). I also paid them. It was in May the bills started coming in, which is when I started telling him I needed him to do his half.

Honestly, I wouldn't ask him for bill money he knew nothing about. I haven't asked him in over 3 years to help so, him not helping is partly my fault. When I first asked he told me it was my place to do it. I pointed out the 50%.

When I asked what was reasonable I never got an answer.

"Listen to your attorney" is an excellent answer.

"Don't be unfair," which is what I generally stated, is also a good answer.

"Read your court order," is what we often say.

What else do you want us to say? Something incorrect?

 

[bobblehead]

I'm sorry. The "I never got an answer" was not directed at people here. I meant from my attorney. She didn't state what was considered reasonable. I do apologize. I was not meaning to be disrespectful.

I agree that the answers here were good.

 

[Silverplum]

I'm sorry. The "I never got an answer" was not directed at people here. I meant from my attorney. She didn't state what was considered reasonable. I do apologize. I was not meaning to be disrespectful.

I agree that the answers here were good.

I'm sorry, too. I thought you meant US and that makes me testy!

I would be cool and pleasant with him at first, breaking down into a payment plan as you suggested. Then I would slowly tighten the noose, till he's paying within 10 days of receiving each bill you send to him from here out.

 

[Zigner]

It took you 6 months to get your act together and send the bills...seems reasonable for him to take 6 months to pay them.

 

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I guess this isn't a legal question completely, more in need of unbiased opinions. In our custody orders the ex and I are to split medical bills, co-pays, etc 50%. It has been that way since the divorce. He has never offered to pay, nor have I went to him for the cash. However, things have changed and the co-pays have been crazy since the first of the year. I am not going back years asking for his half but, I am asking for his half since the first of this year. The total he would owe is just over $1,500.00. My lawyer said to give him 30 days (which is the amount of time I had to pay each) after I send him copies of the bills to pay a reasonable amount. I do not feel $1,500 in 30 days is reasonable. I was thinking I should break it up into either 3 or 6, making it $250 or $500 in a month. Would that be considered reasonable?

I have asked for his help for 3 months. He paid a $17 medical bill, the smallest bill at the time. Because of this I took out a $19 bill from the stack. I will be honest and say I will be hitting him with contempt if he doesn't pay. However, I want it to be a reasonable amount in a reasonable amount of time.

My plan is to send x amount to him to pay me in 30 days, along with a letter stating x amount is the total he owes but I am breaking it up for him. I will be sending the cancelled checks (acct number blacked out) so that there is no "confusion" he owes me.

So, as for the questions:
- What is a reasonable amount to ask for?
-Should I break it up or should I ask for the full amount, but with more time? If so, how much time would be considered reasonable?

I want to be fair in giving him the chance to pay his half. He makes $20 an hour @ 40 hours/week. I don't know his bills other than no car payment. As I have said, I have asked him for his half, I have already given him copies of the bills and he ignores it.

So how soon have you sent him bills? Do you have joint legal custody? Was he informed of all doctor appointments/medical treatments BEFORE they occurred? Did you pay your first $100 per child for the calendar year before you attempted to get him to pay anything?

 

[bobblehead]

Thank you for your answer.

Quite honestly, I can't be disrespectful here even when I don't like what I hear. I am still trying to learn this web of legalities and advice here (even when it is not for me particularly) has been a tremendous help.

 

[bobblehead]

@Zigner- The bills just started rolling in back in May. We exchanged the bills when we exchanged the kids (whoever has the kids leaves them in the house to talk to other parent-there is someone in house with kids at both places). Example: If I got a bill on Friday, I copied it and gave it to him on Tuesday. He did the same.

@Ohiogal- He recieved the bills within a week of me getting them.
He was aware of all and at about 60% of the appointments.
Yes, I have paid well over the $100 of the first year.

Exact wording: MOTHER IS DESIGNATED RESIDENTIAL PARENT AND LEGAL CUSTODIAN OF THE MINOR CHILD; FATHER SHALL HAVE REASONABLE VISITATION AS AGREED BETWEEN THE PARTIES;

 

[Ohiogal]

@Zigner- The bills just started rolling in back in May. We exchanged the bills when we exchanged the kids (whoever has the kids leaves them in the house to talk to other parent-there is someone in house with kids at both places). Example: If I got a bill on Friday, I copied it and gave it to him on Tuesday. He did the same.

@Ohiogal- He recieved the bills within a week of me getting them.
He was aware of all and at about 60% of the appointments.
Yes, I have paid well over the $100 of the first year.

Exact wording: MOTHER IS DESIGNATED RESIDENTIAL PARENT AND LEGAL CUSTODIAN OF THE MINOR CHILD; FATHER SHALL HAVE REASONABLE VISITATION AS AGREED BETWEEN THE PARTIES;

Hey great except that has NOTHING to do with medical expenses. EVERY YEAR you are responsible for the first $100 per child per calendar year of medical expenses. So it has nothing to do with the "FIRST YEAR". Have you sent him proof that you have paid more than $100 per child this year (since January 1, 2011)?

 

[bobblehead]

I am truly messing up my wording today. I meant I have paid more than the $100 for the first part of the year. However, no I have not sent him the proof. I can most definately do that though. Thanks

 

[shockergeek]

Hey great except that has NOTHING to do with medical expenses. EVERY YEAR you are responsible for the first $100 per child per calendar year of medical expenses. So it has nothing to do with the "FIRST YEAR". Have you sent him proof that you have paid more than $100 per child this year (since January 1, 2011)?

So the custodial parent is responsible for the first $100 per child on copays? If so is this the case for every case in ohio?

 

[mistoffolees]

It took you 6 months to get your act together and send the bills...seems reasonable for him to take 6 months to pay them.

However, her attorney advised her to give him 30 days.

I would do what the attorney said and ask for the money in 30 days. Then if Dad comes back and asks for more time, I would certainly be flexible, but I suspect the attorney wants it on record that the money is due now.

Or maybe he's just being a PIA.