Question:
So my ex canceled our son's medical insurance and chose a more affordable one.?
proud mami
2009-10-11 14:30:54 UTC
Ok, so I share custody of a beautiful 5 year old. Although we have joint custody, I still have him most of the time and he goes to the school in my city. Anyway, so we split up close to 3 years ago and now he is married to an older woman who is well off. I now dont care what he does with his personal life and only care about our little boy. So about 2 weeks ago he informs me that he switched my son's medical insurance because he no longer can afford it. I was very upset, because my son's doctor is an awesom pediatrician and my little boy has a bond with him. He even named his stuffed animal after his doctor. Should I be mad and request this matter to be handled in court? Now, I found out that his wife is the one who will be paying for my son's new insurance through her job. Since my ex is obligated to provide medical coverage, does his wife being the one to provide it count? I really need some advice here. My son suffers from asthma and soon I need to take him for his check up. I hate the fact of having to go else where and the new doctors office knowing nothing about my son's medical history. Believe me, if I could afford it I would get his own insurance; but I cant! My ex makes a lot more money than and as of last year I no longer have a full time job.
Six answers:
anonymous
2009-10-11 14:41:30 UTC
You say your ex is obligated to provide medical coverage. Unless the divorce decree says otherwise, the choice of that coverage is up to him. I doubt that the decree gives you veto power over it or guarantees that one specific doctor must be "in network."
lucy
2009-10-11 16:09:59 UTC
You say you don't care about the new wife, but you are still harboring ill feelings from your divorce. I suspect he left you for her which adds humiliation even more. I know, it happened to me and I got over it, but it took several years to realize I was better off w/out him.



You will have to take your son to a different doctor for your sons treatment. Before going, I suggest you call that great doctor you love and have that office transfer all of his medical records so they can properly treat your son. Granted you believe he was the best, but there are a lot of great pediatricians out there.



The fact that the new wife is paying for the insurance vs your ex means nothing, only that maybe her insurance maybe better than his. When I received my support checks from my ex, many times it was from my ex's new wife's account, and I did not care, as long as I was getting the money, since money is money and my only concern was taking care of my daughter.



If you were to go to court and dispute this, most likely will lose since think about it, you ex is providing insurance for your son, so you are not losing anything. If you were still married and his insurance changed at work and you were no longer able to take your son to the same doctor, you would have to change doctors or pay the difference out of pocket, so it is no different. It is not uncommon with employers changing insurance and EVERYONE who had a great family doctor find that they are no longer on the new insurance and have to find a new one and this is no different.



But say he did not get health insurance for your son, then that would be different and a reason to go back to court. If he is saving so much money, then go back to court and modify your child support to pay you more, but otherwise, let it go.



good luck
sarah314
2009-10-11 16:36:40 UTC
Of course the insurance counts. Your ex is obligated to provide insurance for your son, and he is doing so. The fact that its coming through his new wife's employer is irrelevant. Your son is insured, and therefore the ex is meeting his obligation.



Does your divorce decree clearly state that your ex must provide insurance where the current pediatrician is "in-network"? If not, then there isn't anything you can do about it. He's providing insurance, and that's his obligation.



Even if your ex had continued with the previous policy, there's no guarantee that the current pediatrician would have continued to be "in-network" with that insurance company. Provided networks do change.



Through my job, I've seen hundreds of divorce decrees. (At least, the portion that pertains to providing health insurance.) I don't know what your specific decree states, but compared to the common provisions in the ones that I have seen, your ex is likely fulfilling his obligation.



If you have reason to believe that there are unusual and/or non-standard provisions in your divorce decree that would make this a different situation, then you should contact your attorney to get his/her input. But if you have the standard language about health insurance that tends to go in most divorce decrees, there isn't anything you can do.





P.S. I understand that it upsets you that your son may have to change the doctor who has seen him since birth. My kids saw the same pediatrician from birth to age 5, and then we had to change because I got a new job. It happens to a lot of people, for varying reasons (not just divorce/custody issues). But he will get through it okay, and you will get used to taking him to a new doctor. If you absolutely can't accept changing, see if you can continue seeing the old doctor "out of network." However, you'll have to be prepared to pay more out of pocket for the out of network costs.
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2016-09-28 15:06:02 UTC
you may desire to have the means the call the coverage and ask for Cobra which permits you to keep the coverage for 18 mths . in case you cant locate the money for call interior of sight well being dept. All states have some style of scientific well being coverage purely for infants. healthful young infants, Peach young infants diverse call for each state inspite of the indisputable fact that it is going to purely value you 10- 15 money a month and no such element is consistent with present difficulty. so a procedures as you X i even have faith you get what you supply so take a seat back and watch his downfall.
mythoughts
2009-10-11 20:45:03 UTC
And you know for sure that your son's DR does not take your new insurance?
car253
2009-10-11 15:39:21 UTC
Why not ask for more child support so you would be able to pay for the medical insurance yourself?


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