Health Insurance Enforcement: When the Order Requires Coverage

Many California child support orders include a requirement that one or both parents maintain health insurance for the child. When the paying parent fails to maintain that coverage, the custodial parent has a separate enforcement claim — and may be entitled to reimbursement for uncovered medical expenses.

Enforcing Health Insurance Orders

If the paying parent’s order requires them to maintain coverage and they’ve let it lapse, the custodial parent can file a motion for enforcement. The court can order the paying parent to obtain coverage immediately, reimburse any medical expenses incurred during the coverage gap, and pay attorney fees if the failure was willful.

National Medical Support Notices can reach employer-sponsored plans directly. DCSS can issue a National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) to an employer, requiring the employer to enroll the child in the paying parent’s employer-sponsored health plan. The employer must comply regardless of whether the paying parent cooperates. Custodial parents who request this tool from DCSS can get coverage reinstated without going to court.

The California Child Support Recovery System gives custodial parents the exact tools, templates, and step-by-step guidance to enforce support orders, calculate arrears, and use every enforcement mechanism available — without paying an attorney to get started. Request your free evaluation here.