Can I be forced to pay insurance for stepchild?

Question

Here's the situation. My husband makes very little money. I have him covered under my insurance policy.

Until recently, my stepdaughter was covered under Child Health Care Plus. Coverage stopped when she turned 15. Her real mother is being a real witch and demanding we buy her insurance. Hubby can't afford it. I can't enroll her under my employer's plan because there's only open enrollment one month per year. I really don't WANT to put her on my policy, as she seems determined to get pregnant ASAP, and also she hates me and steals from me. Can I be FORCED to get her insurance?

Oh, and did I mention her real mother doesn't work?

HELP!!!!

P.S. She is "on" birth control, but she's ADHD and we're not sure she is remembering to take them. She does not have our permission to be sexually active, but kids'll find a way where there's a will. We've found notes from her telling boys: "I want to have your babies!" :^(

P.P.S. To clarify, the stepdaughter DOES live with us now. Her mother's boyfriend "couldn't take her anymore" and demanded she come back with us. :^(

Answer 1

No.

If your family's coverage is in your name, you cannot be forced to enroll your stepdaughter on it. (Even if her mother filed for a medical child support order, it would not require her to be added to *your* plan.)

Of course, if she got the court order for him to provide medical insurance, he would have to obtain insurance for her somehow. And it would probably be cheaper for him to enroll your stepdaughter on your plan than to get the coverage on the private market. But, technically, she still wouldn't *have* to be enrolled on your plan.

P.S. Regarding the fact that she wants to get pregnant ASAP - you might want to check to see how your policy would cover pregnancies of your dependents. Many group policies only cover maternity services for their own employee or the employee's spouse...not for the dependent children who happen to get pregnant.

In short...*you* can't be forced to get her insurance. But your husband can be court ordered to provide insurance for her. If you're the primary wage earner in the household, you'll end up paying for it one way or the other anyhow.

Answer 2

Whether or not your step-daughter hates you, she's still your husband's child and he should be providing for her, insurance included. She is a part of your family, even if she doesn't live with you.

As far as the open enrollment goes: if you and your husband had a baby, the child wouldn't have insurance until the 'one month' came around? I doubt it.

Speak to your HR rep... and get this kid signed up. It's not her fault she doesn't have insurance.

It seems ALL kids have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD for the simple reason that they can't be controlled or are disruptive... and the school can get extra funding. If she's that adamant about getting pregnant, and her mother isn't doing much about it, maybe it's time to have physical custody of her?

Remember, it's a package deal when someone marries someone with children...

Good luck with this~

Answer 3

You can't be forced to get insurance for a step-child. In most states it is the husband's responsibility to provide the insurance in a case like this. Since you have your husband on your health plan, then it would be right to put his daughter on yours. You don't have to wait until open enrollment to add a family member in this situation. I would put her on the insurance and tell her father to get up off his tail and try being a parent to her before it's too late.

The girl needs some stability in her life. She needs to be taken to planned parenthood for a check and some birth control pills. Then someone needs to monitor her by seeing that she takes the pill. She needs counseling for her ADHD and possibly meds for that. Someone needs to provide a stable home for her and a firm hand to direct her.

If she steals, then a police report needs to be made when she does it. She needs to know there are consequences for her actions.

You need family counseling with her to try to find out why she hates you. Does her Mother hate you? Maybe it's a learned emotion. Do you show her love and compassion, or do you resent her because of her Mother? All these issues need to be worked out. It is hard to be 15 today, and most kids need a lot of love and support to get through it.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

If she doesn't make her legal residence with you, you might not be able to cover her anyway. It depends on how your group plan defines a dependent child. You have no obligation to insure her but the problem boils down to the fact that your husband may end up financially responsible for either her insurance or her medical bills, which would affect you directly or indirectly since he'll have to come up with the money. That child is in a sorry state and sounds desperate for someone to love her, even if it means having a baby--worst case scenario. I know you didn't ask about what to do with your step-daughter but I truly think family counseling and individual counseling for her would make a world of difference for all of you. She obviously knows you don't like her and she probably feels her parents don't like her either.

Answer 5

I realize you don't want to pay for her medical. But, think of how expensive and emotionally straining it will be on you and your husband if this unstable child gets pregnant?? The best thing you could probably do is put her on your medical and get her professional help along with getting her on birth control to avoid her screwing up all your lives long-term. Three years is short term until she is an adult and can "move on." If she has a kid now, she may be stuck with you for a very, very long time trying to raise a kid and also not working like her mother and with very little money like her father. Please do yourself a HUGE favor and just add her to your medical if it is possible to protect your sanity and your marriage. If you cannot right now, atleast take her to family planning for birth control and get her some counseling free through a church if you cannot afford it through a counseling center. Church's are wonderful at keeping family's grounded.

Answer 6

Check your husbands custody order. It will say who has to keep her insured. Usually it will be 50/50. So your husband would be responsible to insure her or keep her insured. Whether that was adding her to your plan or buying a policy that him and his ex wife splits.

If its her responsiblity, its her responsibility. At that point you might need to get the courts involved because you dont want a child without health insurance. Especially if she gets pregnant and has no health insurance. If your Husband is repsonsible, he is responsible for the hospital bills. It could literally bankrupt both of you.

If she is trying to get pregnant, and not following house rules. Call the state, or see if you can have her emancipated (she will be considered a legal adult, releasing your husband from all parental rights). Only a court can do this, but it might be exactly what she wants.

Good luck and im sorry about your situation.

Answer 7

I suggest that you try this site where you can compare rates from different companies: http://COVERAGE-FINDER.NET/index.html?src=2YAdsrlcIH47

RE :Can I be forced to pay insurance for stepchild?
Here's the situation. My husband makes very little money. I have him covered under my insurance policy.

Until recently, my stepdaughter was covered under Child Health Care Plus. Coverage stopped when she turned 15. Her real mother is being a real witch and demanding we buy her insurance. Hubby can't afford it. I can't enroll her under my employer's plan because there's only open enrollment one month per year. I really don't WANT to put her on my policy, as she seems determined to get pregnant ASAP, and also she hates me and steals from me. Can I be FORCED to get her insurance?

Oh, and did I mention her real mother doesn't work?

HELP!!!!
Update: P.S. She is "on" birth control, but she's ADHD and we're not sure she is remembering to take them. She does not have our permission to be sexually active, but kids'll find a way where there's a will. We've found notes from her telling boys: "I want to have your babies!" :^(
Update 2: P.P.S. To clarify, the stepdaughter DOES live with us now. Her mother's boyfriend "couldn't take her anymore" and demanded she come back with us. :^(
1 following 21 answers

Answer 8

I suggest you to try this internet site where onel can get quotes from different companies: http://INSUREQUOTE.US/index.html?src=3YAgdcekDZ28

RE :Can I be forced to pay insurance for stepchild?
Here's the situation. My husband makes very little money. I have him covered under my insurance policy.

Until recently, my stepdaughter was covered under Child Health Care Plus. Coverage stopped when she turned 15. Her real mother is being a real witch and demanding we buy her insurance. Hubby can't afford it. I can't enroll her under my employer's plan because there's only open enrollment one month per year. I really don't WANT to put her on my policy, as she seems determined to get pregnant ASAP, and also she hates me and steals from me. Can I be FORCED to get her insurance?

Oh, and did I mention her real mother doesn't work?

HELP!!!!
Update: P.S. She is "on" birth control, but she's ADHD and we're not sure she is remembering to take them. She does not have our permission to be sexually active, but kids'll find a way where there's a will. We've found notes from her telling boys: "I want to have your babies!" :^(
Update 2: P.P.S. To clarify, the stepdaughter DOES live with us now. Her mother's boyfriend "couldn't take her anymore" and demanded she come back with us. :^(
1 following 22 answers

Answer 9

I understand you don't want to cover her. However, do check with your employer about the availability to do so. You say they only have open enrollment once per year. However, you can usually change in mid-year if you have a qualifying event. In this case, the loss of other health care coverage. Think of it this way, if she gets pregnant and she's minor, who do you think is going to pay for the doctor and hospital bills if she isn't covered? (Most likely you.).

Answer 10

Not sure where you live, but here in California...depending on how much money your husband makes he can enroll himself and her in medi-cal (I think there is something called medicare elsewhere) that will also cover ALL expenses if she happens to get pregnant. Look into some kind of state or government program for both your husband and her as she is his child.