Question about insurance coverage & treatment

[aparent2]

What is the name of your state? California

I wrote into the site a few months ago with questions about my custody case. I have encountered a few more problems in dealing with my daughter's father.
My daughter's father carries medical insurance on her. We live in different counties of California. I cannot take her to the doctor without traveling to the county that the father lives in. I cannot transfer her doctor to the county we live in, because only the father is authorized to change or access her insurance policy.
Recently there has been difficulties since the commute is nearly impossible since I have another older child in school in the county I live in. The father keeps changing her doctors and appointments to his county which is a very long commute, not enough time for me to return home to our county for my older child in school.
What do parents do when the Non-Custodial parent and the Custodial parent live in different counties? Is there a way to force the Non-Custodial parent to release authorization to the county of the child's residence? Since the father has changed doctors, and changed appointments, he has now stated in court papers that he is the only one taking care of her medical treatment? Right now I have to drive over 60 miles to the Emergency Room if she is injured, or I have to pay out of pocket which I cannot afford.
The father is using this manipulating by changing her doctors to his city, then changing appointments, then when he is the only one to take her he says I do not take her. I am more than willing to take her and I took her throughout her life until her father decided to interfere this way. I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I don't.

Can anyone offer any insight or opinions??

 

[Zephyr]

do you have insurance through your work? you might want to petition the court to let you cover her and have him reimburse you the premiums based on his power games.

 

[aparent2]

do you have insurance through your work? you might want to petition the court to let you cover her and have him reimburse you the premiums based on his power games.

Unfortunately, I do not. I did apply for my own separate insurance for her. A program for low income in my state. They asked for all the appropriate paperwork and denied my application because I have a court order for insurance on her. Her father is ordered to provide coverage. I cannot afford to pay for private insurance out of pocket at this point.
Also, this week is kindergarden enrollment so I did the proper paperwork. Just a bit ago I was informed he enrolled her in kindergarden in his community??!! I don't know how he's managed to do that!
Our custody trial is postponed until the summer because the California courts are so backed up.

 

[Zephyr]

what is your custody order right now?

 

[aparent2]

what is your custody order right now?

We have joint legal custody. I have primary physical custody. We are under a temporary ("non prejudicial") visitation order pending the outcome of Forensic Evaluation. This temporary order gave him extended weekends until Monday instead of Sunday. If you read my posts from before, it's just been a big mess with every little thing with the man!
My daughter's father has fought the mediator's report, the minor's counsel's report, and the Forensic Evaluator's report. Due to him paying late and postponing, the trial which was supposed to be last year, is now set again in July of this year.

 

[Zephyr]

who is responsible for out of pocket medical expenses?
are you sure his insurance only covers your child in his county or is he just telling you that?

 

[thegoodguy]

I assume you know the name of his insurance provider.
I'm pretty sure if you call the insurance co, and tell them the whole story, they can set you up with doctors in your county.

 

[Zephyr]

yes he was probably the one who told you the insurance company would not talk to you, they may not give you personal info but that's not what you're asking for, and I would also decline the enrollment at the school in his county.

 

[aparent2]

I assume you know the name of his insurance provider.
I'm pretty sure if you call the insurance co, and tell them the whole story, they can set you up with doctors in your county.

The insurance company will not give me any information due to HIPPA laws. They will not even send me an insurance card, he had to give one to me. They told me only the provider can access the policy information and they cannot change anything unless the policyholder changes it.

 

[aparent2]

yes he was probably the one who told you the insurance company would not talk to you, they may not give you personal info but that's not what you're asking for, and I would also decline the enrollment at the school in his county.

The insurance company said only the policyholder, which is the father, has her Primary Care Network in his county and that they would not change it unless he authorized the change.
It is so insane.

 

[styl4u64]

This is EXACTLY what I'm going thru,, different state, but still, exactly! This is nothing more than a POWER thing! And I'm glad that we haven't been to the courts to officially state who's the custodial, legal and 'primary' custodian yet. The support has been established and with that includes the medical,, but I have an unfortunate twist, the ex's 'fiance' is my child's medical provider,,, and so it goes on.... good luck to YOU!

 

[LdiJ]

Ok....dad is attempting to manipulate the final outcome of the custody case (and foolishly as far as I am concerned) by making it as difficult as possible for you to meet your child's medical needs...therefore making him look like the more responsible parent. The KG enrollment is pretty immaterial at this point, and may just be an attempt the "psych you out".

I you have an attorney...make sure that your attorney addresses the medical insurance issues with the judge. If you don't have an attorney...then based on the complexity of this case you should probably get one.