Felix Said:

Health Insurance & Child Support Help?

We Answered:

Fact is, when he adds the new wife & her kids onto his plan at work, it shouldn't cost him anything "extra" to continue covering your kids, too. That is, most group health plans have a rate for employee (him), spouse, and "kids" (1 or 9, doesn't matter - usually - how many).

Regarding the tax deductibility of his premiums: NOTE: I'm not a CPA. I don't believe that he can deduct the premiums paid (though there could be exceptions if, for example, he's self-employed, incorporated, etc., etc.). If I remember correctly, your premium "cost" is added to the amount of the healthcare expenses you've paid in the tax year and then that amount is deductible if it "exceeds 5% of your adjusted gross income as stated on line 39" (or something like that).

Ignoring the tax deductibility or not issue, I would think that it's a lot less expensive for you to let him pay the premiums on the kids instead of you doing it; if he can find a way to "swing" a tax deduction out of it, then good for him.

Hope this helps - have a nice day!