MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE ON MINOR / DISABLED CHILDREN OF THE PARTIES IN AN ILLINOIS DIVORCE CASE.

IT IS IMPERATIVE TO SEEK THE SERVICES OF AN ATTORNEY, LAWYER OR LAW FIRM EXPERIENCED IN THE AREA OF FAMILY LAW WHEN INVOLVED IN A DIVORCE CASE.

Medical insurance coverage for ex-spouse:

A spouse who is covered by medical insurance through his or her spouse's employer may (in most cases) continue said insurance coverage for a period of 18 months from the date a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage is entered pursuant to C.O.B.R.A. Normally, in order to do so, the spouse not covered through the employer is required to contact the plan administrator within 30 days after the entry of the Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage and request said insurance coverage be extended to him or her. The insurance premium charged the ex-spouse is not the amount that the employer was charging the employee for said insurance coverage during the marriage but instead is the amount of the insurance premium the employer is paying to cover said ex-spouse (which is most cases is much more expensive than what the employee was paying during the marriage of the parties). It is very dangerous for an employee to continue to carry his or her ex-spouse on his insurance coverage without disclosing the divorce in that if there is an insurance claim the employer's insurance provider can investigate the situation and deny coverage to the ex-spouse.

Medical Insurance Coverage on Minor Child:

Usually the court will require for one or both of the parents to provide major medical insurance coverage on the child/children of the parties. The court will consider the party's financial condition, income, whether insurance is available through either of the spouse's employer, cost of medical insurance coverage and if medical insurance is available through the State.