[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 130 (Tuesday, August 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING CHILD HEALTH COVERAGE COMPENSATION IN 
                          DIVORCE ACT OF 2024

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 13, 2024

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Ensuring Child Health 
Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2024. This bill would require 
that when a court directs a non-custodial parent (including a 
stepparent) to provide health insurance for a child, the other parent 
may get reimbursed directly from the insurer for any out-of-pocket 
medical expenses for the child incurred by such parent, regardless of 
the source of insurance.
  In a divorce, one parent is typically court-ordered to provide health 
insurance for the child. However, the other parent may pay for out-of-
pocket medical expenses for the child that are reimbursable by the 
insurer. Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 
group health insurers are required to directly reimburse a parent who 
pays for reimbursable out-of-pocket medical expenses when the other 
parent has been court-ordered to provide health insurance for the 
child. However, other health insurers are not required to reimburse the 
other parent directly. This bill would require all health insurers to 
provide such reimbursement.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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