Child support in North Carolina typically covers a child’s basic needs, like food, shelter, and clothing. However, the court can also address medical expenses in a child support agreement. If you’re wondering whether you can adjust the amount of child support to cover medical costs, here’s what you need to know about how the state handles these expenses.
Medical expenses in child support
In North Carolina, child support orders often include provisions for medical support. This can cover health insurance and other medical expenses. The court may require one or both parents to maintain health insurance for the child. It can also order parents to share out-of-pocket costs, like co-pays and prescription expenses, that health insurance doesn’t cover.
Modifying child support for medical expenses
If medical needs increase or if health insurance premiums change, you may want to request a child support modification. When making a decision, the court will consider factors such as the child’s medical needs, the cost of insurance, and both parents’ ability to pay. If you feel that the current support does not cover medical expenses, you can ask the court to review and adjust the order.
What to do if medical expenses aren’t being covered
If your child support order doesn’t adequately cover medical costs or if your ex isn’t paying their share, you can request a review. To do this, you must show proof of the medical expenses and explain how they exceed the original agreement. The court may adjust the order to ensure fair distribution of medical costs between both parents.
Child support in North Carolina covers medical expenses, but you might need to modify the order if your situation changes. Keep track of any medical expenses and insurance to ensure that your child’s needs are being met.