When it comes to providing financial support for a child, Maryland has specific guidelines for extraordinary medical expenses. These costs are treated as a “mandatory deduction” for basic child support, meaning that if the non-custodial parent pays for the costs of child care, the portion of the total monthly costs attributed to the custodial couple is deducted from the monthly child support payment of the non-custodial couple. If the custodial parent pays for child care, the non-custodial parent must pay their share in addition to basic child support. The Maryland legislature has recently approved a change in the child support law that would allow extraordinary medical benefits to work more like a deductible. This means that a parent who decides to cover their child to save on child support may end up spending more money out of pocket and could also leave their child with poor primary insurance coverage.
It is important to understand how these changes affect the calculation of basic child support payments and how to take advantage of them. In general, the Maryland child support formula calculates how much each parent must contribute to their child support based on a proportional share of the parents' combined income. Once the basic amount of child support is determined, support is divided between parents based on their share of combined family income. This financial aid is calculated taking into account the child's basic needs, from housing to health care. When it comes to the cost of your child's health insurance premiums, alimony is designed to cover basic medical costs. The documents needed to submit this type of evidence must be obtained from the employer, making it easier to purchase health insurance.
When the child's exclusive portion of the parents' health insurance premium is included in the alimony calculation, the premium is credited to each parent based on their share of combined household income. Dual insurance (when both parents provide health insurance for the same child) can harm the family, increase overall insurance costs for all, and reduce coverage for your child. It is important to understand how these changes affect the calculation of basic child support payments and how to take advantage of them. Weisman understands the intersection between child-related health insurance, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and Maryland Amar child support guidelines. Now, Maryland has specialized guidelines for sharing the extraordinary costs of a child's health care that are independent of and in addition to basic child support payments. We can tell you what your child support order will cover and how to take advantage of changes in the extraordinary medical expenses law. It is essential that you understand how these changes affect your family's financial situation and how you can take advantage of them.
With Weisman's help, you can ensure that your children have access to quality healthcare while still receiving adequate financial support from both parents.
