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EspañolWhich parent has to provide health care coverage for the child?
If a judge makes a child support order, the judge will also require that either parent provide health care coverage for the child if the coverage is available for the child and is offered at a reasonable cost. A “reasonable cost” is not more than five percent of the parent’s gross income. The judge can also order that the other parent has to contribute to the cost of the health care coverage and to any medical expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance.
If the child is enrolled in MassHealth or a similar program in another state, then the parent will be required to keep that child enrolled in the program for as long as the child is eligible. If private insurance is available for the child, in addition to MassHealth, then the judge could order that either parent enroll the child in the private insurance if:
- the private insurance is available at a reasonable cost;
- enrollment in private insurance is in the best interests of the child; and
- the enrollment does not create an undue hardship for the parents.1
1 M.G.L. 208 § 28; M.G.L. 209 § 37; M.G.L. 209C § 9
