New Regulations on Obtaining Health Care Coverage from Non-custodial Parents Who Are Federal Employees


 

Publication Date: November 2003

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Paula Roberts

Research Area: Government; Health

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

If a non-custodial parent has health care coverage available through employment, the state must order the non-custodial parent to enroll the children in that coverage (unless the children are already covered by some policy other than Medicaid). Until October 30, 2000, however, this scheme did not apply to federal employees. While decision-makers could order non-custodial parents who were federal employees to provide health care coverage for their children, unless such employees voluntarily complied, there was no way to enforce the orders. A law was passed to ensure enforcement of health care orders to federal employees; however, a number of questions about its proper implementation that have kept it from being as effective as it could be. This memo outlines some areas of concern on which public comment might be helpful.