Either party may request for reimbursement of healthcare expenses for any expense incurred within one year of the date of service or payment/denial from the insurance company. If you are the party receiving support (payee) and there is a provision for an Ordinary Medical Amount the total expenses must exceed the stated threshold on the Uniform Child Support Order (UCSO) per child per calendar year before you submit for a claim. Check your most recent order for this information. For Payees when you are requesting for reimbursement you are verifying that you have met the threshold of the Annual Ordinary Medical Amount listed on your UCSO. You may be asked to provide proof if the payer (party paying support) requests or objects to your request.
Ordinary medical expenses include co-payments and deductibles, and most uninsured medical-related costs for all children in the case. The term "medical" includes treatments, services, equipment, medicines, preventative care, similar goods and services associated with oral, visual, psychological, medical, and other related care provided or prescribed by a health care professional for the child(ren). (2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual 3.04(A)(1). Routine remedial care costs (e.g., first-aid supplies, cough syrup, and vitamins) do not qualify as medical expenses.
STEP 1: REQUEST FOR HEALTH CARE EXPENSE PAYMENT:
Complete the Request for Health-Care Expense Payment form (2 part-FOC 13
and grid sheet). You will date this form the date you provide to the opposing
party along with your proofs of billing and payments. All proofs must show a date of service, the
child’s name, name of provider, cost of service, portion covered by insurance,
remaining uninsured balance and proof of payments made by requesting party. You
must give the other party 28 days to either make payment or make written
payment arrangements with you.
As an Example:
(table will be inserted here)
Step 2: Complaint and Notice for Health-Care Expense Payment:
If 28 days have passed and you have not received a response from the other party you may then on the 29th day submit the Complaint and Notice for Health Care Expense Form. (FOC13a) You will submit this form to the Friend of the Court along with a copy of the Request for Health Care Expense, all the bills associated with the request and proof of payment. The party subject to pay has 21 days to put an objection in writing and submit to the Friend of the Court or pay the requestor directly. Your Request and Complaint will be reviewed, signed, dated and mailed to both parties if approved. Pursuant to Michigan law (MCL 552.511a), Friend of the Court will send copies of your documentation and forms to the opposing party. If requests are incomplete or improper, they will be returned to you with an explanation of what is needed further.
Step 3: Result:
If the opposing party fails to pay or object to the Complaint and Notice for Health Care Expense then the expense will be added to the medical reimbursement account and enforced as an arrearage. If the payer is requesting reimbursement and no payment and no objection was made, a credit could be added to charging support. If the opposing party objects in a timely objection to your Complaint, the Friend of the Court will schedule a hearing and send notice of the hearing dates to both parties.
Additional Request and Complaint forms are available at the Friend of the Court office located at 210 S Highlander Way, Suite 3, Howell Michigan 48843 or from the
Friend of the Court Forms Page.