Please only answer this question if you either know the answer for sure, have been in the same situation as me, or if you are a lawyer. Thanks.
I am a 17 year old girl who has been basically disowned by my father. I live full time with my mom and have no contact with my father at all.
However, according to the court documents my parents have joint custody of me, I am also covered under my father's health insurance. If my mom and I were to go to court and petition for her to have full custody (legally) of me and for me to change my last name, would I still be covered under my father's insurance plan or no.
I don't mean to sound greedy, but I am asking because my mom has very bad health insurance and I want to make sure that I can keep good health insurance coverage.
I am covered until I graduate from college (as long as I remain a full time student) but I don't know what the rules are if I get a name change or if the custody changes.
Thank you so much.
A name change does not effect insurance. However, make sure to notify the insurance company, so that they do not deny a claim because the name of the person who was treated (your new name) does not match the name on the policy (your old name).
A custody change may or may not matter. You need to carefully check the terms of the policy. If it covers only your father and those children of whom he is custody or joint custody, then you would not be covered if your mother had sole custody. However, if it covers him and all his biological children who are full time students, then you would still be covered.
If the insurance policy or his employer gives him the option to keep your on his insurance or drop you, then you should ask the judge to order him to keep your on the insurance.
No one here could possibly know.
See, some employers have their health insurance policies set up, that in order for a dependent to be covered under the health insurance, they have to be a TAX dependent as well. Some will accept a court order.
Either way, if your dad WANTS to drop you off his policy, he can, even if there's a court order that says he's supposed to be providing the health insurance for you.
No one here could possibly know how your dad's employer has the coverage set up, or IF there's going to be a court order.
Your dad will have you as a dependent, if you are to be covered by him. However sense it is HIS health insurance policy, he can cut you off with just a phone call.
So, it's really up to your dad. He can list you as a dependent, and from the sounds of it, you already are. But he can also take you off as one.
You are entitled to your Dad's insurance. It makes no difference who has custody or the last name. Your Dad must arrange it with his employer and this may be a problem if he disowned you. Plus, your Dad's employer may take more out of his pay check for family coverage instead of single coverage, and this too may present a problem.
That is a matter for your parents to work out. You may be eligible to be on his plan, but your parents have the final say.
your dad would still have to put you down on his health insurance as a named insured and pay the premium.
Your 17 and have less than 365 days before turning 18. There is no such as custody when you are an adult. I suggest you just sit back for the remainder of the year and don't rock boat. And it's going to create a lot of heart ache for people (stress for you, more issue for/with your dad, etc) and most likely it wouldn't even be resolved before your next birthday.
When you are 18, you should be able to do whatever you want and your dad would be required to adhere to the child support agreement.
I'm not a lawyer nor have I been in the same situation. But I do have common sense.