In Florida, child support refers to the money that one parent pays to cover the cost of raising their child after a divorce or separation. Both parents are legally responsible for providing support to their child, even if they are not staying together.
Child support usually helps pay for a child’s everyday living expenses, such as clothing, food, and housing. In most cases, the parent who spends less time with the child makes the child support payments to the parent who has primary custody. These payments even help ensure the child has a safe place to live, enough food to eat, and the right clothing to wear.
If You Can’t Agree on Anything? How to Handle Contested Divorces in Florida.
Does Child Support Cover Medical Expenses?
Every Florida child support order clearly explains which parent is responsible for providing health insurance for the child. However, health insurance does not cover every medical expense.
Parents may still have to pay copays, deductibles, out-of-network charges, or treatments that are not covered by the insurance plan. That’s why most parents think about who is responsible for these extra medical costs.
Who Pays Uncovered Medical Bills?
When a child’s mental, vision, dental, or prescription expenses are not covered by health insurance, both parents are usually responsible for sharing these costs. The court decides how much each parent should pay. If the custodial parent pays an uncovered medical bill, they should send the other parent a written request for reimbursement. The request should include:
- The child’s name
- The date the request was sent.
- The date the medical services were provided.
- A description of the cost of services.
- The doctor’s or medical facility’s name
- The payment deadline
- The amount the other parent is responsible for paying
In most cases, the other parent should be provided with at least 30 days after receiving the request to pay their share. If they do not pay, the custodial parent can ask the court to order reimbursement.
Check out How To Calculate Child Support in Florida?
How Are Medical Expenses Divided?
When a court orders parents to split the uncovered medical expenses, each parent’s share usually depends on their percentage or the couple’s combined net income.
For example, if one parent earns about one-third of the combined income and the other earns two-thirds, the first parent would pay one-third of the uncovered medical costs. However, the second parent would pay two-thirds.
If there is a need to avoid disputes, the parent who pays the medical bill keeps the copies of the receipts, invoices, insurance statements, and payment records.
What About The Other Costs?
Child Care Costs
Basic child support can help cover a child’s everyday needs. However, it does not usually include the cost of child care needed when the custodial parent is working or attending school. Some of the expenses, such as daycare, after-school programs, babysitters, and work-related summer camps, are generally considered additional child care costs. In most cases, both parents are responsible for sharing these expenses based on their incomes.
Education Expenses
Child support mostly covers ordinary public school expenses, such as school supplies, books, and field trips. However, it does not automatically cover private school tuition, tutoring, or college costs. These are generally considered additional expenses, and a court can order parents to contribute if it is in the child’s best interest.
The amount each parent pays mostly depends on their financial conditions. Courts are more likely to require parents to share private school costs if the child has already been attending private school and both parents have the financial ability to pay. Florida courts generally don’t need parents to pay for an adult child’s college expenses unless parents agree to do so.
Transportation and Travel Expenses
Transportation or travel costs can be allocated separately depending on the court’s order or parenting plan. It can include transportation between each parent’s home, travel to extracurricular activities, vacations, or visits with relatives. Parents should discuss these expenses separately and include them in the parenting plan or another written agreement.
What Expenses Are Not Included in Child Support?
Private School Tuition
Child support does not pay for private school tuition. It is considered an additional expense instead of a basic educational need. If parents want their child to attend a private school, they need to agree on how the cost will be shared.
Extracurricular Activities
Basic child support does not cover the costs of extracurricular activities. It can include dance classes, theater programs, sports teams, music lessons, or travel sports teams. Even if these activities can benefit a child’s growth and development, they are mostly considered optional. Parents need to decide together how these expenses will be paid.
Medical Expenses Not Covered By Insurance
Child support helps cover a child’s basic healthcare needs. However, it does not always include medical expenses that health insurance does not cover. These can include orthodontic treatment, cosmetic or elective procedures, alternative therapies, and specialized treatments. Parents may need to split these costs depending on the court orders or their own agreement.
Health Insurance Premiums
Child support payments do not usually include the cost of a child’s health insurance premiums. Instead, the court may need one parent to provide health insurance for the child as a separate obligation.
Even if insurance premiums are handled separately, the cost of providing health insurance can still be considered when the court calculates the overall child support amount.
Know The Role of a Divorce Attorney in Child Custody Battles.
Why Should You Choose Affordable Divorce Center For Child Support Expense Matters?
Child support decisions can have a lasting impact on both your finances and your family. At Affordable Divorce Center, our attorneys are experienced in handling family law matters throughout West Palm Beach and Boca Raton. Because our practice focuses on family law, we have the experience to help our clients through the most complex child support cases.
We regularly assist our clients with complicated child support cases. Our legal staff thoroughly check cases involving high-income parents or self-employed individuals, children with special medical or educational needs, and disputes over income. These situations usually need careful legal analysis and a more personalized strategy than simply applying a standard formula.
