Responsible Party for Children's Medical Bills

[The0racle]

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

I posted this in Family Law too so if that's a no-no, I apologize. I wasn't sure which forum was more appropriate for my question.

My ex has sole legal and physical custody of our children. I pay full child support and provide full medical coverage for the children. Our order states that we agree to equally share non-covered medical/dental expenses. The Coordinator is the parent who incurs the cost and the Contributor is the parent who reimburses the Coordinator.

If ex takes the children to the doctor, who is the "Responsible Party?"

I have no problem paying my half but it doesn't seem right to me that I get the bill and have the burden of attempting collection for ex's half. Especially when I'm not made aware of the doctor's visits prior to receiving the bill. But this is what he is doing, and he never reimburses me when I send requests.

I realize that I can take legal action against him eventually but in the meantime, how can I assure that the adult who brings the child in is the party who receives the bill?

Thanks for your help!

 

[RMarie1501]

He is the one who is supposed to be responsible for the bill, he took the child to the doctor. He had to of given the doctor's office your address for the bill to go to you instead of him. Collections agencies don't usually get involved in court proceedings as far as what the court paperwork says's. He is the one who signed the paperwork for the child to have treatment, that's the one who is responsible as far as they are concerned. It looks like you are paying all the med bills anyway and what ever is not covered you share it.. what you pay about 95%/To his 5% that does not seem fair. I'm not sure if you can get him to stop doing this.. so you are probably going to run into this a lot. The doctor's office may look at it different but collection agencies don't get involved in court paperwork but whoever signed for treatement.

 

[TigerD]

And now for an accurate response:

Both you are your ex are 100 percent liable for medical bills for your children. There may be a divorce decree or other ruling that says you pay X percent and he pays X percent -- but that is between you and him.

In that case you pay the bill and sue him for the part he owes.

DC

 

[The0racle]

And now for an accurate response:

Both you are your ex are 100 percent liable for medical bills for your children. There may be a divorce decree or other ruling that says you pay X percent and he pays X percent -- but that is between you and him.

In that case you pay the bill and sue him for the part he owes.

DC

Thanks for your response. Makes sense.

Assuming this is true/accurate, then I will pay my half to the doctor and instruct them to pursue the other parent for the other half.

I did this once before and got nowhere, however. They never pursued him; only me, so I ended up paying the entire balance.

Seems I will have to take this man to court over everything. He keeps the ball in his court always by dodging responsibility.

 

[Zigner]

Thanks for your response. Makes sense.

Assuming this is true/accurate, then I will pay my half to the doctor and instruct them to pursue the other parent for the other half.

I did this once before and got nowhere, however. They never pursued him; only me, so I ended up paying the entire balance.

Seems I will have to take this man to court over everything. He keeps the ball in his court always by dodging responsibility.

You say it makes sense, then you go on to state that you didn't understand it at all...

YOU are 100% responsible to the doctor. YOU can then collect from the ex. The doctor is under NO obligation to seek payment from your ex.

 

[The0racle]

You say it makes sense, then you go on to state that you didn't understand it at all...

YOU are 100% responsible to the doctor. YOU can then collect from the ex. The doctor is under NO obligation to seek payment from your ex.

How can you say that I am 100% responsible? debtcollector said we are both responsible 100%; what makes ME more responsible than my ex? Or was that just an incomplete sentence?

And I DO understand. The doctor's office is going to pursue whoever they can get money from (that would be ME) because I have the insurance policy.

What I understand from all of this is that ex has the upperhand because he barks louder at the doctor's office and turns the bill onto me. My burden is then to pay the bill and TRY to sue him for his half.

 

[TigerD]

How can you say that I am 100% responsible? debtcollector said we are both responsible 100%

You are responsible for 100 percent. Your ex is responsible for 100 percent.
You are both responsible for 100 percent.

The doctor must be paid 100 percent and he doesn't care which one of you ponies up the cash. To protect yourself, you should pay the balance and recover the difference from your ex.

DC