(a) In any action to establish or modify a child support obligation, the court shall order either or both of the parents to provide medical support, which may include dental, optical or other health care needs for their dependent children. The court shall:
(i) Require in the support order:
(A) That one (1) or both parents shall provide insurance coverage for the children if insurance can be obtained at a reasonable cost and the benefits under the insurance policy are accessible to the children; and(B) That both parents be liable to pay any medical expenses not covered by insurance and any deductible amount on the required insurance coverage as cash medical support; or(ii) Specify in the court order the proportion for which each parent will be liable for any medical expenses as cash medical support, which may include dental, optical or other health care expenses incurred by any person or agency on behalf of a child if the expenses are not covered by insurance.(b) When the insurance coverage is ordered pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the court shall order the obligated parent to submit to the court and to the other parent, or to the other parent’s representative, written proof that the insurance has been obtained or that application for insurability has been made within sixty (60) days after the entry of the order requiring insurance coverage. Proof of insurance coverage shall contain, at a minimum:
(i) The name of the insurer;(ii) The policy number;(iii) The address to which all claims should be mailed;(iv) A description of any restrictions on usage, such as preapproval for hospital admission, and the manner in which to obtain preapproval;(v) A description of all deductibles; and(vi) Two (2) copies of claim forms.(c) The court shall order the obligated parent to notify the court and the other parent if insurance coverage for any child is denied, revoked, or altered in any way that would affect the other parent including any change relating to information required in subsection (b) of this section.(d) The court may hold an obligated parent in contempt for refusing to provide the ordered insurance, or for failing or refusing to provide the information required in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.(e) In addition to enforcement by contempt, as provided for in subsection (d) of this section, the obligated parent is liable to the other parent, any person or agency for:
(i) Part or all of the cost of medical care and medical insurance premiums paid or provided to a child for any period in which the obligated parent failed to provide required coverage;(ii) Any direct insurance benefits received by the obligated parent and not used for the medical care of the child; and(iii) Any reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in collection that the court may determine appropriate.(f) In any action to establish or modify a child support obligation and upon a sufficient showing by the department of family services that birth costs were paid by medical assistance within the preceding five (5) years, the court shall also order that the father pay birth costs to the department in the manner set forth in W.S. 14-2-1001 through 14-2-1008. Failure of the department to make a sufficient showing under this subsection shall not preclude the department from subsequently seeking recovery in any other manner authorized by law.(g) If the department of family services has previously attempted to recover birth costs pursuant to W.S. 14-2-1001 through 14-2-1008, the court is not required to issue the order described in subsection (f) of this section.
W.S. 20-2-401
Amended by Laws 2018, ch. 131,ยง 2, eff. 7/1/2018.
