Determining Primary Insurance : very confused

[chipmunk226]

What is the name of your state? Maryland but child support order is issued through Pennsylvania I hope this is the right forum to post this question

I am the CP. I have medical insurance for my son through my husband. I just obtained my son's medical card from his father this week. While at our last child support hearing, the hearing officer said that primary insurance was based on the month of the parent's birthday, and who ever came first, that was the primary.

So here's my question; Dad's birth month is August, mine is September, so that would mean that his insurance is primary and the insurance I have through my husband is secondary? If so, how am I supposed to file claims on behalf of my son? Would all his medical bills be put in his fathers name under his insurance to his address even though our son is primarily with me?

Me and his father do not have good communication and and I only just got a medical card from him and our son is 8 :-/. He also is yet to pay me the unreimbursed expenses from 2006 and that was only about $250 for the year. I don't have access to a lot of dad's information and it's not as simple as sending him a form and asking him to send it in. Meanwhile, I am paying out of pocket for all of our son's medical and I feel the financial burden could be eased from both of us if we are using all the recourses available to our son. The cost of the out of pocket expenses is over $1500 for this year alone due to my son's allergies, asthma and medications.

Do I basically forward everything to him to fill out and just do the wait and see approach? Or could I get into trouble because my son does have other insurance and I'm not able to provide that when he sees his doctor's?

Thanks!

 

[CJane]

All you should have to do - at least, all I've ever done - is fill out new insurance forms at the child's physician. There should be a place for primary insurance and a place for secondary. Just provide all the information required for each w/your ex's info for primary.

It will not change the actual address in your son's medical records, only who is primarily responsible for insurance coverage.

 

[Ohiogal]

If dad is providing insurance then dad's insurance is primary and STEPDAD's insurance is secondary. YOU are not providing any insurance yourself directly. Dad is the only legal parent who is actually providing insurance directly.

 

[Ohiogal]

All you should have to do - at least, all I've ever done - is fill out new insurance forms at the child's physician. There should be a place for primary insurance and a place for secondary. Just provide all the information required for each w/your ex's info for primary.

It will not change the actual address in your son's medical records, only who is primarily responsible for insurance coverage.

It could change who is sent the bills however. And dad will receive all the EOB's.

 

[chipmunk226]

Thank you!

Thanks Cjane and Ohio

So this whole time, it should have always been his father as primary then.

But then this raises another question, if he gets the EOB's, will he also get the bills to pay an outstanding balance? And if there is an overpayment by me, would he get the refund?

Is there anything I could file to have put in our CS order to help make it easier? I'd much rather just keep my husbands insurance as primary and involve his father as little as possible because I don't want his lack of participation financially cause problems for me getting him medical care.

 

[chipmunk226]

Update Question

I did call my [husband's] insurance company and they told me that it is based on who is the primary custodial parent is determines primary insurance. Is this right?