| Friend
of the Court Information |
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|
| Healthcare |
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| |
 General
Information: |
| The
medical enforcement clerk in our office is available to
assist you and answer your questions concerning the health
care provisions in your court order. The clerk's job is
to enforce the health care portion of the order. The clerk
can help you obtain information about the health care
coverage available to the other party to your case. The
clerk can help you obtain reimbursement for health care
expenses for the minor children. Finally, the clerk can
calculate the "reasonable" cost of health care
coverage in your case. |
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|
Where
to Start: |
| Look
at your court order. For the FOC office to assist you,
your order must have a provision about health care coverage
and expenses. Most orders provide for one or both parties
to furnish health care coverage on the children, if available
at reasonable cost. Most orders also provide that uninsured
non-routine expenses be split between the parities in
some percentage. Routine expenses are usually paid by
the custodial parent. |
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|
Procedure
for Collection of Health Care Expenses: (Pre 2005 Orders) |
| The
medical enforcement clerk can assist you with collection
of health care expenses for your children if: |
| 1.
Your court order provides for the other party to pay a
portion of the expenses. |
| 2.
You must send a letter to the other party, with a copy
of the bill(s) including proof of any payment, and the
explanation of benefits from your insurance company(if
any). This letter must be sent within 28 days after the
insurer's final payment or denial of coverage. If
the parties have no insurance coverage, the letter must
be sent within one year after the expense was incurred.
Allow the other party 28 days to respond. Keep a copy
of the letter. |
| 3.
If no arrangements for payment are made by the other party,
get a Demand for Medical Payment form (available in the
forms section of this web site or at the FOC office.)
Fill it out and return it to the FOC office with a copy
of the bills, explanation of benefits, and a copy of your
letter to the other party(#2). The Demand form must be
received by the FOC office within one year after the expense
was incurred or 6 months after a parent defaults in paying
under a written agreement. |
4.
The FOC office will not enforce bills resulting from
routine health care.
The
following are examples of what are considered routine
health care expenses and are not enforceable through
the FOC office:
1.
Annual physical check-ups.
2.
Immunizations
3.
Annual dental check-ups, teeth cleaning, and fillings.
4.
Contact lenses
5.
Office calls
6.
Other expenses under $100 for an illness or occurrence. |
| 5.
After the Demand for Medical form is mailed by the FOC
office, the payer has 21 days to file a written objection.
If no objection is filed, the amount becomes a support
arrearage subject to enforcement. If an objection is filed,
you will be notified of a hearing before a referee. |
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|
Procedure
for Collection of Health Care Expenses: (Orders 2005 And
After) |
| The
Friend of the Court Office can assist you in collection
of extraordinary health care expenses in certain circumstances: |
| 1.
Your order or Judgment must provide for the other party
to pay all or a portion of the health care expenses. Those
expenses exceeding the annual ordinary health care
expense amount in your court order are eligible for reimbursement.
|
| 2.
You must send a letter (or you may use a "Request
for Health Care Expense Payment" form from our office)
with a copy of the bill(s) including proof of any payments,
and the explanation of benefits from your insurance company,
to the other party. This letter must be sent within 28
days after the insurer's final payment or denial of coverage.
If the parties have no insurance coverage, the letter
must be sent within one year after the expense was incurred.
Allow the other party 28 days to respond. Keep a copy
of the letter. |
| 3.
If no arrangements for payment are made, request a "Demand
for Medical Payment" form from the Friend of the
Court Office. Fill it out and return it to the office
with a copy of the bills, explanation of benefits, as
well as a copy of your letter(#2). The Demand form must
be received by the Friend of the Court within one year
after the expense was incurred or 6 months after a parent
defaults in paying under a written agreement. |
| 4.
The Friend of the Court Office will only enforce bills
that are paid in full, unless for orthodontia or major
hospital expenses. |
| 5.
After the Demand for Medical payment form is mailed by
the Friend of the Court, the payer has 21 days to file
a written objection. If no objection is filed, the amount
becomes a support arrearage subject to enforcement. If
an objection is filed, you will be notified of a hearing
date before a referee. |
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| Links |
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|
| Office of Child Support Public Website |
| Michigan
State Disbursement Unit (SDU) |
| Federal
Office of Child Support |
| MI
Child (Insurance) |
|
Michigan Child Support Formula Manual |
