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Health Insurance

SK3's picture

Submitted by SK3 on Mon, 09/24/2018 - 11:33am

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General Discussion

My husband is required to provide health insurance coverage for all of his kids.  2 of 3 live with us.  The third is the olders, nearly 19, has a FT job, does not go to schoool, and lives with her BM in another state.  The company he works for is switching insurance providers and the PPO is barely affordable.  We want to go HMO.  But, with her in another state, she would not have coverage unless it's in an emergency. 

Is he legally required to still provide her insurance?  I know that according to the ACA he is not, but not sure on the divorce decree side...

justmakingthebest's picture

Submitted by justmakingthebest on Mon, 09/24/2018 - 11:57am

Double check his decree but it is usually unitl 18 or finished with college. Unless you are in NY state and they have it until like 21 there! What age does child support end? That should be the end of insurance coverage as well.

SK3's picture

Submitted by SK3 on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 12:54pm

He doesn't pay CS anymore on her since we got custody of the other two.  I will check the decree for ages - I believe it was college as long as they attend.

Survivingstephell's picture

Submitted by Survivingstephell on Mon, 09/24/2018 - 12:45pm

DH tried to remove skids from his policy during open enrollment.  He needed to provide proof that they had another policy in place before they would remove them.  DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT.   Wasn't told this the year before.  He's retiring anyways and they will lose it but the principle of the thing really pissed us off.  Be forewarned it might be difficult to remove him.   

If he has aged out from the CO, then the court has no say in if coverage is provided for him or not.  

SK3's picture

Submitted by SK3 on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 12:54pm

Wow!  Open enrollment is basically an "anything goes" time!  Thank you for the heads up!

Survivingstephell's picture

Submitted by Survivingstephell on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 10:28am

We do make the kids/skids pay their copays at age 18.  least they can do for the "free" cadillac insurance that they have.  

ESMOD's picture

Submitted by ESMOD on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 10:38am

The ACA allows you to keep your kids on your plan until they are 26.  That doesn't mean he HAS to.. but that he can.

Now, I am assuming that the plan he has is a "family plan" that doesn't distinguish by how many kids you have covered.  As such, there would be no extra cost to cover the 19 yo.  I would check with the insurance plan to see what the 19 yo options are for getting care.  It's unlikely that they would be limited to care within a certain area.. but, they may be subject to paying more for out of network providers.  Further, just because your DH has the 19 yo on his plan.. it does NOT mean he is responsible for paying for out of pocket costs related to what they might incur. 

So, I don't see the harm in keeping the 19 yo on his plan.. whatever plan he decides.  If 19 yo wants "better" coverage.. they are welcome to get their own coverage.. at which point, your DH could drop them from his plan.

Benefits to keeping the 19 yo on your plan might include that any money they (or BM) pay towards their out of pocket costs will get credited towards meeting your DH's deductible and maximum out of pocket numbers.

ESMOD's picture

Submitted by ESMOD on Thu, 09/27/2018 - 10:46am

https://www.floridablue.com/sites/floridablue.com/files/AwayfromHomeCare...

By the way, this is a link to a pamphlet by a FL HMO that allows you to do "guest coverage" in a HMO that may be local to where the 19 yo lives.  I don't think there is a cost but this ins co makes you do an application.  I believe it pretty much is giving your reciprocal rights with another HMO local to the out of state covered person... it sounds like it would be something to look into.