Opinion ID: 1295254
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Insurance and Unreimbursed Medical Expenses.

Text: The original divorce decree ordered James to provide medical insurance for all three girls and directed the parties to divide uncovered expenses equally. James's wife, who he has since divorced, covered the girls under her insurance policy through her employment. After James and his wife divorced, Dorothy began providing medical coverage for the children under her husband's medical insurance plan. In its modification order, the district court modified the original decree ordering Dorothy to be responsible for the health insurance. The district court found it was economically prudent for Dorothy to continue to have the children covered under her husband's medical insurance policy. The court also required Dorothy to pay unreimbursed medical expenses in accordance with the child support guidelines rule 9.10. The rule requires Dorothy to be responsible for the first $250 per year per child of uncovered medical expenses up to a maximum of $500 per year for all children and for the parties to share any uncovered medical expenses in excess of $250 per child or a maximum of $500 per year for all children in proportion to their respective net incomes. Iowa Ct. R. 9.10 (2002). Dorothy first complains the issue of medical insurance and unreimbursed medical expenses were not before the district court; thus, the court had no authority to modify the original decree and require Dorothy to maintain the health insurance and pay the unreimbursed medical expenses in accordance with rule 9.10. We disagree. James's application to modify the decree stated there was one minor child remaining for the purposes of child support and that he requested the court to modify the decree in an appropriate fashion. In his prayer, he asked the court to set forth the child support obligation on behalf of Molly and the court should render other relief as is just and equitable in the premises. The issuance of a child support order is governed by Iowa Code section 598.21(4)( a ) and provides that all orders of support shall include as child medical support a health benefit plan ... if available to either parent at a reasonable cost. Iowa Code § 598.21(4)( a ) (2001). By putting child support at issue, the parties put child medical support at issue. At trial, the evidence confirmed Dorothy was providing medical insurance for the children. The child support guideline worksheets prepared by James and Dorothy both showed Dorothy as taking a deduction for medical insurance premiums in the sum of $7416 from her net income, while showing no such deduction for James. The parties requested and the court used these deductions to calculate child support under the guidelines. Neither party presented any evidence that Dorothy should not continue to pay the medical insurance. The evidence shows a health benefit plan was available to Dorothy at a reasonable cost, and she should therefore continue to provide this insurance. Finally, because Dorothy is the custodial parent, the child support guidelines require Dorothy to be responsible for the first $250 per year per child of uncovered medical expenses up to a maximum of $500 per year for all children and for the parties to share any uncovered medical expenses in excess of $250 per child or a maximum of $500 per year for all children in proportion to their respective net incomes.