Coverage for Children of Divorced Parents
Q: How does dental claim coordination work for children of separated parents?
A: For children of separated parents, dental claims are first submitted to the custodial parent’s plan, with any remaining balance eligible for submission to the other parent’s plan for additional coverage.
Tom’s colleague, Sarah, who had recently gone through a separation, was looking for guidance on how to coordinate dental claims for her son, Alex, who was covered under both her Active plan and her ex-partner’s insurance. Knowing Tom’s depth of experience, she asked him for help navigating this new situation.
Over lunch, Tom shared what he knew about coordinating benefits in these cases. “When it comes to kids with separated parents,” he explained, “the primary plan is usually the one belonging to the custodial parent. So, if Alex lives with you most of the time, you would file any of his dental claims with your Benefits of Film plan first.”
Seeing Sarah nod in understanding, Tom continued, “After your plan processes the claim, if there’s any remaining balance, you can submit it to his other parent’s plan for additional coverage. This way, both plans contribute, helping reduce any out-of-pocket costs you might face.”
Tom had read up on the union’s guidelines over the years, and he assured Sarah that the Benefits of Film plan followed these standard coordination rules to help ensure children received the best possible support. Sarah felt more confident, knowing she could handle future claims and provide the best coverage for Alex. For Tom, it was fulfilling to see how the union’s support could make even complex situations easier for members and their families.