Dental insurance

[meldresler]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? KY

Hi,

My ex-husband and I initially did a mediated separation agreement. It stated that he was responsible for health, dental and vision insurance for our daughter.

She only has medical with the very limited dental that is contained in a medical policy. She does not have a supplemental dental insurance policy.

He took me to trial a few years ago for custody (I won) but in preparation, the health insurance company drafted a letter stating that she does not have dental insurance, that she has medical insurance with a few limited dental benefits added in. The insurance company (Anthem) stated on the phone that by adding a few limited dental benefits, it was explicitly not their intent for anyone to claim this was dental insurance or they were providing dental insurance.

He says she has complied because there is some dental in the health insurance. It is true the original agreement does not spell out "supplemental dental insurance" or "separate dental insurance policy". Any thoughts?

And yes, no need to state that this is all foolishness, but if I buy her a dental policy, it will detract from money I could put into her college fund, lessons, whatever. Another note: the trial was called off after just one witness, so we never got to this issue, just to custody and relocation.

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? KY

Hi,

My ex-husband and I initially did a mediated separation agreement. It stated that he was responsible for health, dental and vision insurance for our daughter.

She only has medical with the very limited dental that is contained in a medical policy. She does not have a supplemental dental insurance policy.

He took me to trial a few years ago for custody (I won) but in preparation, the health insurance company drafted a letter stating that she does not have dental insurance, that she has medical insurance with a few limited dental benefits added in. The insurance company (Anthem) stated on the phone that by adding a few limited dental benefits, it was explicitly not their intent for anyone to claim this was dental insurance or they were providing dental insurance.

He says she has complied because there is some dental in the health insurance. It is true the original agreement does not spell out "supplemental dental insurance" or "separate dental insurance policy". Any thoughts?

And yes, no need to state that this is all foolishness, but if I buy her a dental policy, it will detract from money I could put into her college fund, lessons, whatever. Another note: the trial was called off after just one witness, so we never got to this issue, just to custody and relocation.

Is it actually feasible financially to obtain dental coverage?

 

[CJane]

Is it actually feasible financially to obtain dental coverage?

I don't see how it wouldn't be. Honestly, dental insurance and vision insurance are the cheapest things in the world to purchase. Delta Dental offers plan in KY for less than $60/month.

Certainly not worth fighting in court about, IMO.

**I only used Delta Dental as an example, because that's who I have dental insurance for my children through. I don't have any sort of vested interest in WHO OP chooses to insure her child.

***As another side note, Delta also offers vision coverage that is also very inexpensive.

/PSA

 

[Proserpina]

I don't see how it wouldn't be. Honestly, dental insurance and vision insurance are the cheapest things in the world to purchase. Delta Dental offers plan in KY for less than $60/month.

Certainly not worth fighting in court about, IMO.

**I only used Delta Dental as an example, because that's who I have dental insurance for my children through. I don't have any sort of vested interest in WHO OP chooses to insure her child.

***As another side note, Delta also offers vision coverage that is also very inexpensive.

/PSA

We have the plan from that company which sounds almost like Panera... the vision and dental is bloody horrible!

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

It appears OP should seek court clarification on her vague order.

 

[CJane]

It appears OP should seek court clarification on her vague order.

Or, if she's unhappy with the dental coverage provided by Dad, she could purchase a policy for a LOT less than a court battle would cost her.

 

[meldresler]

Hi, Well, I'm in Kentucky and honestly the "Obama" ACA network here is excellent. So I am trying to get some quotes on her dental (she also needs braces). Unfortunately, I did run into some computer issues when I tried to find quotes for her and couldn't get anywhere on the phone ...

At this point, the Judge is so angry about the custody trial that I'm in a strong position to go into court and get reimbursement plus court costs. There are other associated reimbursement issues. I know I sound litigious, but at this point the general advice is to stay very tough with this guy who has really put me through the wringer ...

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

You are the one who elected to marry and procreate with "THIS GUY". Unless he makes a salary extraordinarily higher than yours, it seems an undue burden to stick all those on him along with child support. Obviously if the money is going into her "COLLEGE FUND", the burden on him may be dramatically skewed. It is not intended to be saved, it is intended to be spent now.

 

[TheGeekess]

You are the one who elected to marry and procreate with "THIS GUY". Unless he makes a salary extraordinarily higher than yours, it seems an undue burden to stick all those on him along with child support. Obviously if the money is going into her "COLLEGE FUND", the burden on him may be dramatically skewed. It is not intended to be saved, it is intended to be spent now.

CS is intended to reimburse the parent receiving it for monies spent. Doesn't matter what YOU think it should be used for. If Mom wants to bank every cent, she certainly can.

 

[meldresler]

Well yes, he actually is retired and earns about 5x what I earn without working, lives in a house 6x larger than mine (I rent a 1000 square foot home, he lives in a 6000 square foot home). When we did our separation agreement, he refused to commit to anything for her college education, so I said that even if I had to live in a box, I would find a way to pay for her college (officially, in writing).

He pays significantly less than formula for child support, paid almost no spousal support (about 1/8 of the formula).

He exhausted all of my savings taking me to trial and had to reimburse some portion of legal fees. His attorney joked to mine that although the Judge was angry about his legal meddling, we all knew I didn't have the financial resources to take him to court for the reimbursement of legal fees. I hope this paints a clear picture of this situation.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

CS is intended to reimburse the parent receiving it for monies spent. Doesn't matter what YOU think it should be used for. If Mom wants to bank every cent, she certainly can.

OP is the one implying he is a lousy father. He is not here to present his side of her story. Yes, it appears you have different values than he does. It appears the money she spent was divorce and custody battle, not for the child's benefit.

 

[meldresler]

In this context, I don't care who thinks he's a lousy father or not, I'm just wondering if the phrase requiring that he cover medical, dental and vision would suggest that he should have obtained dental insurance seven years ago.

If it helps, the court determined that he was not interested in the child's best interest, that he was close to the standard of vexacious, that he was trying to exhaust my savings. The Judge thought this, all of the experts thought this ... but you don't know me or him or the experts involved.

Here's what he emailed me about an hour ago, and again, the insurance company wrote a letter stating "this is not dental insurance":

"She has dental insurance. I did not agree to provide supplemental dental insurance."

Added note: my problem here is that none of this back and forth with him does anything to help her, it doesn't provide any solutions or proposals. It's just a series of absolute statements rather than "maybe we could look here, try this, think of this ..".

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

So we are back to my post #5. Good Luck.

It appears OP should seek court clarification on her vague order.

 

[CJane]

Hi, Well, I'm in Kentucky and honestly the "Obama" ACA network here is excellent. So I am trying to get some quotes on her dental (she also needs braces). Unfortunately, I did run into some computer issues when I tried to find quotes for her and couldn't get anywhere on the phone ...

At this point, the Judge is so angry about the custody trial that I'm in a strong position to go into court and get reimbursement plus court costs. There are other associated reimbursement issues. I know I sound litigious, but at this point the general advice is to stay very tough with this guy who has really put me through the wringer ...

I dunno. I get the whole "stay tough" thing. Never back down when you're right. Never let the bully see your fear or weakness.

But ya know... it's exhausting. If you could find supplemental insurance for her for $60 or so a month? *I would think it would be better for you and your daughter than fighting with the ex about it. Really.

 

[meldresler]

I dunno. I get the whole "stay tough" thing. Never back down when you're right. Never let the bully see your fear or weakness.

But ya know... it's exhausting. If you could find supplemental insurance for her for $60 or so a month? *I would think it would be better for you and your daughter than fighting with the ex about it. Really.

I TOTALLY agree, but there are a lot of issues accumulating at this point, this is just one of many. The good news is that a couple of years ago I did get reimbursement for 5 years of medical reimbursements he had refused to pay along the way ...