Does an employer have the responsibility to adhere a court order for d

[Guest joeydell]

Does an employer have the responsibility to adhere a court order for dependent child health coverage if the employee has not satisfied the new hire waiting period? I say the employee has to be eligible for health benefits before the court order can take effect and the employer has to comply.

[KIP KRAUS]

I say you are absolutely correct.

[jeanine]

I agree with Kip. There was supposed to be a Uniform Child Medical Support Order in effect this October, although I'm thinking they might have delayed it. Search the Federal Register from about Dec. 2000-Feb 2001. It gives some very good guidance. In this instance, if you had one of the new orders, you would be required to fill out the response section. That section has an option just like you are describing--employee not yet eligible for coverage. Once employee is eligible for coverage you must bring the child on as a dependent (if all the rest of criteria is met). You may force the employee on to coverage to get coverage for the child if you don't offer dependent only coverage.