Health Insurance on Kids Only

Updated on May 27, 2010
L.L. asks from Cleburne, TX
22 answers

My husbands ex-wife has now decided she doesnt wanna be nice anymore, and he has to get insurance on the kids. I know its a court order but she has always carried the insurance and we paid her for it. But now she wants him to get it himself. He is covered on my insurance through work, and i cant add them to it because they dont live with us. Do any of you have any ideas on how i would go about getting them just the 2 of them insurance.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I have checked through my insurance, but since the kids dont live with us they wont cover them. And we cant get any type of state insurance because they dont live with us. So far any individual plans i have found has to also have an adult insured with it, but we dont need that. I guess we will keep searching. Thank you all so much for all your ideas!!!!!

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

Contact Greg Hammons with Southwest Health and Life. He is an awesome agent and can educate you on the best options. You can contact him at email is ____@____.com Phone: ###-###-####.

M.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I think HR can clear this up--certainly you can switch to a family plan? Think how many men cover their kids when the kids live with their ex-wives!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

that's a tough situation. A couple of thoughts 1) you might try to call your local insurance companies and ask if they offer a child only health care insurance plan document each call (person time, date, insurance company) so if the insurance company says no (that they do not offer insurance for children only) you have documentation to show the ex-wife/courts (if it come to that). maybe see if the insurance company will send a letter that they are not able to fill your request. I would also get a letter from your insurance company stating they will not allow you to place them on your insurance since they don’t live with you. 2) depending on the income level would they qualify for state health insurance program?

Sorry can’t be more helpful – good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

If it's a court order, the insurance company may be required to allow you to add them. I would talk to your HR rep or the insurance company directly and let them know it is court ordered and see what they say. Since it is your group insurance and they are not your dependents, you may not be able to do that. If you have to get insurance on the children alone, I would start with any state programs to see if you qualify. If not, you may have to get them a separate policy, but that will be much more expensive than the group policy at work. Assurant, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, any of the major companies will probably be able to pick up a policy for the kids. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

I actually have my daughter's insurance separate from mine. We went through Costco and got the best deal. If you go to their website you can explore it all. But I agree with seeing if the court order will allow you to just add them to your own.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Play her game...tell her you are going back to court for custody. I shouldn't respond so late at night, I can be too ornery!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Amarillo on

You can take over the ex-wife's policy. You can contact a local insurance agent. You can add them to your insurance. IF it's a court order and you have the paperwork stating that, your company has to let you add them. We had to provide a certified copy of the court order to my company, but after they saw the paperwork, the kids were added...and they don't live with us either. Good Luck and keep all your options open.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Keep pursuing a Plan B to cover them yourselves. But don't just let this happen. If she is required to carry it and he to pay it BY COURT ORDER...Then simply notify the insurance carrier directly and the county court system.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.H.

answers from Dallas on

Contact Greg Hammons at Southwest Health and Life. He has been writing health insurance for over 25 years. He KNOWS his stuff and gets great rates Hius email is ____@____.com Phone: ###-###-####
Direct Number: ###-###-#### He will be honest with you and educate you!
E. Herman
Cornerstone Chem-Dry
____@____.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.Z.

answers from Cleveland on

I presume you are talking about health insurance?

Could your husband get it just for the kids through his work? he might have to also sign up for it for himself, in order to get coverage for the kids, I am not sure. He could probably be covered under your employer's policy as a secondary insurance. Then, if he had claims for himself, they would first be sent to his insurance, then to yours. The companies are supposed to work out which company pays for what if the benefits differ. Or you could drop him from yours if he gets it through his work.

Otherwise, call up some insurance agencies and get quotes. I know when we were loooking for health coverage due to unemployment, it was REAL expensive. Would the kids be eleigible for any insurance through the state?

Could you go to court and ask if the current system (she obtains it and he pays) could be ordered to continue? especially if it would be a financial hardship for him to buy it from an insurance company.

Hope that helps

K. Z.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from Dallas on

L. Contact Glenn Bates he is listed on Mammasource as Covenant Health & Life. He has many positive reviews of moms that he has assisted in giving them better or less expensive coverage. He is my agent and does a GREAT job. Here is his number if you want to call ###-###-####. Hope this helps!!

Kathryn

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Dallas on

I would ask (if you don't already have) your insurance to put it in wrighting that they denied you adding the kids. Next talk to your lawyer, if you have to a judge. Might need to send copies to her and her lawyer. If the judge/lawyers see that the kids have to live w/you for the ins. then you fight for custody or for her to pay the ins.
And if he is paying child support, than she can use that to pay for it!
If your husband can get insurance threw his job I would try that, although it is usually only during open enrollment.
Never been their, but my ideas.
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.Y.

answers from Dallas on

Blue Cross Blue Shield has individual policies. We've used them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Ok, if it is a court order here, then you skip back to court. If you were like me, even though it was court ordered, the dad refused to pay it and I did not have any fight left in me,. So at first step-dad did, then we had state insurance for a bit, and I paid Ameriplan for awhile (discount but not actual insurance-was great to have it though!) How old are the children? You can also get sports insurance through schools usually. I myself have family insurance now.I like the other posters idea though. Tell her where she is going to go if she doesn't co-operate.
You know I just reread this and I am trying to understand it a little better. It says 'he' has insurance from your work. Is that the ex? I am assuming he does not live with you so why can you not get it for the children?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Kaiser Permanente has reasonable rates and you can insure just the kids. We did this for a little bit when my baby was just born and we didn't have insurance for a couple of months. I think for a baby it was $168/mo. in my area (CA). But it's essentially an HMO and you have to go through Kaiser for everything which can be good (convenient) but also bad (no choice in doctors). Good luck,

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

When we took my grandkids to raise we had it put in the guardianship papers that the parents would be responsible for any outstanding medical bills. We have Medicaid from the State on the kids but the parents are supossed to carry insurance too. If insurance is not available then him then he cannot be forced to go out and buy it. You just need to go back to court and have the decree altered. It can be that you still pay through her company but to be honest you need to pay the insurance bill with your money to her insurance yourself. Not give her the money, now he has no record he has been paying it. You are still providing insurance but not individually.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.P.

answers from Dallas on

Call these guys, ask for the "life & health dept"

www.thanksal.com

P.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.R.

answers from Dallas on

If it is court ordered that he has to carry insurance for his kids, you should be able to carry them on your insurance. Submit the court order to your company and they should allow you to carry them even though they do not live with them.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.F.

answers from Dallas on

The ex can cover the children. All your husband has to do is deduct the amount for the children that would cost above what she would pay for herself. Example her alone she pays 200.00. To add the children it would cost 300.00. Total cost is 500.00

Your husband would pay the 300. If you do not have insurance available and she does she has to cover them and he is responsible for the balance. I know because I went through this.Private insurance is very expensive and she just want to see you sweat. Hope this helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Obivously every insurance company has different rules, but I would suggest you should talk to HR. When my husband lost coverage through his job, I was able to enroll him in my coverage without waiting for open enrollment. I am sure there are provisions for adding children to insurance coverage in cases of divorce...especially if you have a court order.
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.K.

answers from Dallas on

I believe that if she has access to health insurance and your husband does not, she is required to put them on her plan and your husband is required to pay. I would double-check with a lawyer, but I believe that is the case in Texas.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Santa Barbara on

My assumption would be the ex keeps spending the money you're reimbursing her, so it feels like she is paying for the kids insurance. Many of the major insurance companies (Allstate, State Farm, Farmer's, etc.) sell health packages (Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Pacifica, etc.). I would call you car/house insurance agent and see if they sell health policies. Or you could look it up on the internet--Children's Health Insurance. My son's policy was going to be $110 (major medical only), except he was denied because he takes ADHD medication. **head shake** If only the insurance company would understand that he is less likely to hurt himself on medication. :o/ If I were you, if you haven't already, try to get a better understanding as to why ex doesn't want to carry the kids anymore, especially if your husband is paying for it. I guarantee she has a better policy than what you're going to get on their own.
Good luck,
S.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions