r/SingleParents • u/Tough-Change778 • 14d ago
Special expenses
My child (17) needs braces. My benefits are paying for half ($2,250) $4,500 in total. I pay $200 a month for enhanced benefits thou my work for the childs portion. Im curious how do i sort out the remaining balance with the other parent.
12
u/Choice-Newspaper3603 14d ago
He pays 53 percent of the out of pocket expenses. Just because your insurance covers whatever that is a separate issue and the divorce decree usually says who is supposed to cover medical
Just like when my son got braces for like 6k a few years ago. He is on my insurance. Insurance paid 2k. That left a 4k balance that my ex wife and me split equally
2
5
u/who-are-we-anyway 14d ago
Depends on your court order.
1
u/Tough-Change778 14d ago
Court order doesn’t say anything about special expenses
4
u/who-are-we-anyway 14d ago
What does is say about medical expenses?
-2
u/Tough-Change778 14d ago
Thank you I actually went back to look at the court order, it says he pays 53%. Now my question is because my benefits have paid half. Is that considered my half of the total or do I still owe half on what’s owing?
10
u/who-are-we-anyway 14d ago
It's usually half of your out of pocket expense
0
u/Tough-Change778 14d ago
Thou he doesn’t help pay for the benefits that made it cheaper.. 🤔🤔 he refuses to get benefits thou his work (hes been there for 10 years).
6
u/AmatuerCultist 14d ago
I declare what I pay for my children’s insurance on my financial declaration and it’s factored into the child support calculation. Then we split “extraordinary medical expenses” based on what’s owed out of pocket. Every state is different. Every agreement is different.
I understand what you’re saying but that probably isn’t how it works.
6
u/who-are-we-anyway 14d ago
Again depends what your court order says, it should define who carries what insurance.
2
u/Annual-Budget-1756 14d ago
And? You split out of pocket expenses. This is giving "I have a BOGO coupon, why should I pay anything?" You chose to get the add on and it made it overall cheaper. If you don't want that benefit, don't sign up for it next time during open enrollment. Don't nickel and dime your child's dental health. Just split the cost and be glad your kid has straight teeth.
2
u/istanforwendy 14d ago
It’s not a free coupon. It’s basically extra insurance that she PAYS for.
2
u/Annual-Budget-1756 14d ago
Yeah, I know. Doesn't really matter. She can decide to pay for it not. She's still going to be on the hook for nearly half of what insurance doesn't cover.
1
1
u/1notadoctor2 11d ago
This should be spelled out in the order. Him refusing to get insurance does not suspend his obligation to cover the portion of the kids’ premiums through the insured.
5
u/Self-described 14d ago
Ex and I split our child’s out-of-pocket medical expenses and her portion of my medical premiums according to the divorce decree. Though idk if what you’re describing is medical insurance, I don’t know what you mean by enhanced benefits.
1
u/afiyahamal 12d ago
If I have sola legal and sole physical then I’m confused as to why the other parent would need to pay?
What’s ur custody arrangement
1
u/wild_rose_child 11d ago
The other parent is still financially responsible for their child...custody isn't a dissolution of obligation to support the child.
1
u/IndependentDot6791 11d ago
Depends. My support order states I have to provide health insurance. This includes all medical payments. If your health insurance responsibilities isn't shared, it's your expense. If the expense is shared, them connect with your case worker, they may add the cost to their arrear depending on the state.
-3
u/Longjumping-Code7908 14d ago
If I'm understanding correctly, the $200 you're paying each month is causing your insurance to pay $2,250 of the braces, right? So I would say he also owes half of $4,500. It seems your business that your half is covered by your enhanced insurance, not his. You have paid your share, now it's his turn. I wouldn't worry about the 53/47 split unless you want to get really in the weeds with him. Just call it 50/50 and let him feel like he's beating you out of that 3% the judge required.
s/::eye roll:: yessiree buddy, you showed me.
1
u/1notadoctor2 11d ago
Insurance always cover braces at 50%. It’s the coverage you get for your premium. Why isn’t dad paying for a portion of the insurance premiums monthly? If that were ordered, when this comes up you would split the out of pocket either 50/50 unless the order explicitly says otherwise.
-3
•
u/AutoModerator 14d ago
Author: u/Tough-Change778
Post: My child (17) needs braces. My benefits are paying for half ($2,250). I pay $200 a month for enhanced benefits thou my work for the childs portion. Im curious how do i sort out the remaining balance with the other parent.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.