§576E-17 Medical support enforcement. (a) Where the responsible parent is ordered to provide medical insurance coverage for the dependent child, the agency shall forward a copy of the support order, by registered or certified mail or by personal service, to the responsible parent's employer or union when the responsible parent fails to provide written proof to the agency, within thirty days of receipt of the order, that the insurance has been obtained or that application for insurance coverage has been made.

(b) Upon receipt of the copy of order, or upon request of the responsible parent pursuant to the order, the employer or union shall enroll the dependent child as a beneficiary in the group medical insurance plan and withhold any required premium from the responsible parent's income. If more than one plan is offered by the employer or union, the child shall be enrolled in the plan in which the responsible parent is enrolled or the least costly plan otherwise available to the responsible parent that is comparable to the plan in which the responsible parent is enrolled.

(c) A dependent child whom a responsible parent is required to cover as a beneficiary pursuant to this section is eligible for insurance coverage as a dependent of the responsible parent until the duty of support expires or until further court or administrative order. The insurance coverage shall not be terminated prior to entry of such an order relieving the responsible parent of the duty to provide insurance coverage.

(d) The signature of the custodial parent of the insured dependent child is a valid authorization to the insurer for purposes of processing an insurance reimbursement payment to the provider of medical services. When an order for dependent insurance coverage is in effect and the responsible parent's employment is terminated, or the insurance coverage is terminated, the insurer shall notify the agency within ten days of the termination date with notice of conversion privileges, if any.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, when an order for insurance coverage is in effect, the responsible parent's employer or union shall release to the agency, upon request, information on the dependent coverage available to the responsible parent, including the name of the insurer.

(f) Any responsible parent who fails to comply with an order requiring the maintenance of insurance coverage for the dependent child shall be liable for any medical expenses incurred by the obligee or the State after the effective date of the order. [L 1988, c 154, pt of §2; am L 1990, c 176, §23; am L 1997, c 293, §39]