Failure to maintain coverage, liability, effect
If a parent was ordered to get health insurance for their child and didn't do it, they owe money back to the other parent or the state for any medical or dental bills paid since the order. Not having insurance can also be a reason to raise child support payments. Both parents are responsible for paying medical bills the insurance doesn't cover. A court can split those extra bills between parents based on their income, or they can agree in writing how to split them. If nothing is decided, each parent pays half. The state can also go to court to make a parent pay their share of medical bills the other parent already paid.
454.633. Failure to maintain coverage, , effect — parents' joint liability for medical care — to collect percentage. — 1. An who fails to maintain the for the of a child as ed sections 454.600 to 454.645 shall be to the or to the state of Missouri for any medical and dental expenses or employee or incurred or paid by the obligee or the state, from the date of the court or .
2. of failure to maintain health benefit plan coverage as ordered constitutes a showing of increased need by the obligee and provides a basis for an increase of the obligor's .
3. As between a and the parents of a child, the parents shall be to the for the reasonable costs of the child's necessary medical care. As between parents, responsibility for the child's care expenses that are not covered by a health benefit plan may be between the parents by the court or the , in percentage shares based on their income, or based on a written agreement of the parties. If the order or agreement fails to the shares applicable to the parents, then each parent shall be liable for fifty percent of such expenses.
4. The is hereby to bring an action in on behalf of the to collect from the obligor the percentage share of medical care expenses which were paid by the obligee and were not covered by a health care benefit plan.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1993 S.B. 253 § 14) Effective 5-26-93
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.