{"id":351713,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-support\/uninsured-medical-expenses-and-child-support.html"},"modified":"2023-06-25T10:30:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T15:30:13","slug":"uninsured-medical-expenses-and-child-support","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/uninsured-medical-expenses-and-child-support.html","title":{"rendered":"Uninsured Medical Expenses and Child Support"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Uninsured Medical Expenses and Child Support<\/h1>\n
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\n By Danielle Gilmore, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Child support orders typically cover the child’s basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter. The order should also identify the percentage of expenses, including medical expenses, each parent should pay.  <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

So, in addition to basic child support obligations<\/a>, a court orders parents to provide medical support for their child’s health care. That can include enrollment in health insurance coverage and paying insurance premiums.
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The court may order the obligor parent with insurance to keep the insurance as long as the coverage is available for the minor child. The coverage for the child is either a no-cost add-on or a reasonable cost. They can order a party to maintain health insurance in addition to the child support amount.<\/p>\r\n

If a parent pays out-of-pocket for an insurance policy, the court may give them an allowance when calculating the child support amount. The cost of health insurance factors into the final support award. But what about when the insurance policy does not cover all the child’s medical expenses? How does the court account for that? Read on to learn about child support and uninsured medical expenses.<\/p>\r\n

Parents’ Responsibility for Uninsured Medical Expenses<\/h2>\r\n

Parents must pay for the uninsured or unreimbursed medical expenses of their child. Uninsured medical expenses are those expenses that insurance does not cover, including:<\/p>\r\n