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Seaworthiness222 t1_isfihzg wrote

Ask your job what you need to add your child. Custody doesn't always mean responsible for insurance.

What does it spell out in your custody arrangement? What insurance have you had up to now for your kid?

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March_Latter t1_isfp9rs wrote

Remember HR isn't always accurate or up to date. This sounds like the child had insurance but lost it so as a member of your household this would qualify. Email the HR manager and explain.

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frankybling t1_isgklvt wrote

I think they call it a “qualifying event” and your child should be able to be added to your plan with just a paper saying you’re putting them on your insurance open enrollment or not.

Source- I did this hoop jump about 5 years ago with my kids. You don’t need a court order you might have to get a notarized affidavit saying that you are now the custodial parent (the qualifying event).

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March_Latter t1_isj6vwk wrote

I have seen a case this week were a coworker had a life event and HR tried to turn him down for insurance. Once the HR manager found out it was fixed immediately but he had to chase it all the way to get what he deserved.

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Beck316 t1_isfjr44 wrote

That's crappy, it should qualify as a life changing event. Marriage, divorce, custody change, birth, death.

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steelymouthtrout t1_isg24sj wrote

Yes this is the answer. Change in your status re- opens enrollment and when you look at a family plan you're going to regret this decision. Because the cost for a single person versus a family plan is absolutely outrageous. I would do anything I could do to keep on MassHealth. Pretty sad that we keep ourselves poor to get insurance.

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Beck316 t1_isg5yr2 wrote

I'm lucky I had an option for employee +1 when I was a single parent of 1 child.

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1000thusername t1_isfyiwl wrote

Can you look into the CHIP program also? That’s an alternative health insurance option that’s not exactly mass health but not commercial insurance either.

It’s basically Medicaid that you can pay for for lowER income people who don’t qualify for mass health because their earnings are a little too high.

CHIP info from benefits.gov

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MishtheDish77 t1_isfk5xw wrote

November is usually open enrollment for health insurance. Possibly that change can be made with your company in a few weeks. Best of luck!

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LadyGreyIcedTea t1_ishna7h wrote

Yes but November is open enrollment for the following year. The child needs insurance now. When you have a qualifying change in status, you can add someone to your insurance at anytime. I got married in November and added my husband to my policy outside of open enrollment and it became effective retroactive to our wedding date.

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LadyGreyIcedTea t1_ishn209 wrote

Was your child previously covered under their other parent's insurance policy and lost coverage when custody changed? If so, you have a qualified change in status and you can enroll them outside of open enrollment.

If the child is a former preemie and has ongoing disabilities/medical conditions, they may qualify for MassHealth on the basis of disability regardless of your income.

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mofongoDorado t1_ishp7yo wrote

Thank you for this info, I’ll make sure to emphasize this.

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katieleehaw t1_isfh9nm wrote

Did you talk to your insurance company or just your employer?

Also your income sounds way too high to qualify for Masshealth.

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Starlightandspirits t1_isfms63 wrote

No 55k with a child he should qualify for low cost. When you add a dependent the amount goes up. It also depends on the average median income in the zip code. Unfortunately because thier job offers health insurance he probably has to get it through them. Unless it would bring them below poverty level.

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mofongoDorado t1_isfi1cr wrote

Just the insurance person at my employer,

also if it’s just for my kid?

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katieleehaw t1_isfjcvr wrote

Kids don’t exist independent of their parents for this purpose - your income determines your kid’s eligibility outside some very specific circumstances (like adoption for instance, kids adopted from foster care are eligible for certain benefits).

Call your insurance company directly. Some events are qualifiers for signing up for insurance outside open enrollment. What insurance did your child have prior to the custody change? If it just happened they would still have coverage presumably.

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mofongoDorado t1_isfmsee wrote

Thank you, will try this and I’m not sure about the insurance my kid had before because of unable to contact other parent but will ask My kids Doctor.

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Starlightandspirits t1_isfnk1o wrote

You should be able to get a copy of the court order at the court house. Then I would make a couple copies of it for your records. I would then give it to HR or the Person who handles your insurance. I had to do this myself. Hope it helps. If you are collecting child support they may add that to your income. Keep a copy of the court order in case of any emergency. Say you become unemployed or need some other type of aid. Also get a hold of DOR and get copies of how much support you get and how often.

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mofongoDorado t1_isfoocm wrote

I did send it to the insurance person at my job at first they said that this is a “qualifying event” to add someone to my insurance but then they came back saying it didn’t say in the court order that I had to add her to my insurance

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GreenSoxMonster t1_isftb5i wrote

Is health insurance listed anywhere in the new court order? Is the other parent on the order at all or is it basically saying you’re the only parent now?

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mofongoDorado t1_isfv7r8 wrote

Insurance is not listed in the order, I’m to have sole (temporary) custody and placement of my kid, in a few months on the next court order I’ll most likely be made permanent.

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katieleehaw t1_isgmmf4 wrote

The permanent order will address health insurance. Until then wherever coverage the kid already has should remain in place.

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mofongoDorado t1_ishp11o wrote

It’s a different state so I assumed I needed a new insurance for my kid

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GreenSoxMonster t1_ish7j4n wrote

That’s tough. I’m guessing that your work doesn’t see temporary orders as life changing event. Could you ask them before your next court date to clarify what should be in the new orders?

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frankybling t1_isgl90z wrote

that’s not how it works… your insurance person is incorrect. You don’t need the court order to spell it out… if you get custody unless it’s stipulated the other parent provides the insurance. The onus is on the insurance carrier to add your new dependent to your plan.

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frankybling t1_isgkvga wrote

you already have it? So it’s not just for your kid, you’re adding a dependent, that’s the actual definition of a qualifying event.

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