Health Insurance & CS

[bama24]

Quick question: Why would health insurance not be calculated in with child support? It is only stated in the papers that NCP is responsible for the health insurance of the child. And both the CP & NCP shall pay for the uncovered medical expenses, copays, & prescriptions.


I read the child support guidelines and saw where health insurance is supposed to be calculated in with the chld support.

[belle]

It's suppose to be.  The person paying the premium should get the credit.

Here in AL, the form that DHR, as well as attorneys, use to figure CS is one in the same.

[Lee Borden]

If you're in Alabama, as your screen name suggests, you can see how the health insurance impacts child support by using the calculator at http://www.divorceinfo.com/alchildsupport.htm.

[anniewalker]

OK, you don't give us a lot to go on, so let me offer some scenarios.

At the time of the divorce July 2004, the health insurance cost approx. $350-400 just for the child.

Was this an employer-paid insurance plan?  If so, the judge could look at it a number of ways.  Say single coverage is $20 a week and family is $100 a week.  Dad has to get family coverage to add the child.  The judge can use $80/week (the "extra" cost of adding the child) or $50/week (divide the cost of the insurance by the number of people covered) or some other number if another number of people were covered by the policy.
 

Therefore, from July 04-Dec 06 (when he had the same insurance plan) his actual CS should have been approx. $112-$162??? <CS $112-162 + Health insurance $350-400> Is that right???

You would have to know both mom and dad's incomes, the child care expenses, and the cost of the insurance to acurately know what the child support obligation is according to the guidelines.  Or you could just look at the divorce papers, both parties should have not only a decree but a copy of everything they signed (including income affidavits and child support worksheets).  If you've lost your copy, you can get a copy from the courthouse. 

Another thing to consider - all parties do not go by the guidelines.  Mom and dad could have agreed that Dad pay $512 per month, plus carry the insurance and in exchange mom would cover... something else. The thing that glares in your post is that YOU DON'T KNOW which makes me wonder - what impact does Dad's child support obligation have on you?

[anniewalker]

However, the mother is not covering anything else.

Where does the child live?  Does mom not provide housing, food, clothing, heat in the winter time, air conditioning in the summer, water to drink and take showers with, transportation to and from the home, an extra bedroom in her home for the child, presents when the child's friends have birthdays, school photos, field trips, lunch money, snack money, toys, cable television, DVDs, children's Tylenol / motrin / cough syrup, thermometers, band-aids, crayons... don't get me started.  I realize you are about to marry a man with a child, and that child support looks like a lot of money coming out of his check.  I have been the NCP and the CP and let me make myself clear - the one who is not paying child support is generally paying a LOT more each month towards the raising of that child.

[anniewalker]

the child support has never bothered me. i just wanted to make sure we were not getting screwed by the law.

my fiance actually has no problem paying

So, overall, i'm sure we spend just as much money on the child or more.

Good for ya'll.  The dad SHOULD spend just as money or more on the child as the mom.  Especially if the dad makes more money than the mom.  They are both supposed to support the child equally as to their income ratios.  From your posts, it sounds like Dad is ok with paying whatever he needs to pay to support his kid.  It also sounds like you have a problem with it, and maybe even resent it.  Good luck on your impending nuptials.

[m_t]

I wonder if you'd answer my Q on your other thread, please? http://divorceinfo.com/heo/index.php/topic,13839.msg217033.html#msg217033