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PA Child Support Program

FAQs about NMSN for Parents

 National Medical Support Notice FAQ Parent

Last modified on: December 15, 2009

National Medical Support Notice
1. What is the National Medical Support Notice (NMSN)?
The NMSN is a medical child support order that state child support enforcement agencies must use to enforce medical child support obligations. The NMSN is used when a parent is ordered to provide health care coverage for his/her child and is employed or in active military or reserve military duty.

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2. How is a child enrolled in health care coverage?
The administrator of the group health plan determines if the NMSN meets the Federal requirements. If so, the plan administrator enrolls the child in the health care coverage plan unless there is more than one coverage choice. When there is more than one choice, the plan administrator sends information about the choices to the child support agency. If the child is not receiving welfare, the child support agency contacts the parent with custody of the child about the choices. Once a choice is picked, the plan administrator completes the enrollment process and informs the parents.

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3. How will I get information about the health care coverage?
The plan administrator will send information about the health care coverage, the begin date of the coverage, and any claim forms to the parent with custody of the child.

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4. Who pays for the health care coverage?
The parent participating in the group health plan is responsible for paying the costs for each child named in the NMSN. The employer determines if the amount to be taken from the employee’s paycheck is more than what the law allows. If Federal or State laws prevent the employer from withholding the required amount from the employee’s paycheck, the health care coverage plan is not required to cover the child. However, the parent with custody of the child or the child support agency may request a change in the court order so that the coverage could be paid, or the noncustodial parent could agree to have the extra amount withheld from his/her paycheck.

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5. Will the coverage stop if the parent who pays for the coverage is not working?
Yes. The NMSN enforces medical support orders for a parent who is eligible for health care coverage through employment. However, the parent with custody may be able to continue coverage for the child under the Federal law known as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, or COBRA.
6. How can I get medical coverage for my child if insurance is not available through an employer or the military?
Contact your local welfare office (County Assistance Office) and ask for information about benefits for low-income households through the State Medicaid Program or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

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