My husband is trying to add my son (his stepson) to his health insurance plan?

Question

I already have my son on my policy from my job. My husband was trying to add my son to his family plan at the same time he added me right after we were married, but my husbands HR director wouldn't let him. Is that common? Our lawyer did go through the courts to have my husband named as a guardian of my son. Is there any reason he would not be able to have him on his family health plan as well? I am just confused

Answer 1

I would look a little further in to the issue.  I was on my step dad's policy my entire life.  He was never declared a guardian over me and he didn't adopt me either.  I was covered on his policy until I turned 22.  I went to the doctor, had several minor surgeries and emergency room visits with no problems.  I think it depends on who your provider is.  HR does not have the right to say yes or no as they have nothing to do with insurance.  I would call the insurance company directly.

Answer 2

my 3 year old son is on my insurance through my employer, and on his daddy's insurance through the army (we are not together any more)-- my son is also on my husbands insurance-- it wasn't any problem for us to get him on my husbands insurance, we just had to list the other insurances and my husbands insurance acts as secondary or third party insurance-- i would call and harass someone until the could give me a good reason why he can't be added-- as a step child your child has the right to be carried under your husbands insurance too-- also try calling the actual insurance company-- ask them about it, they might help you out

Answer 3

He can be on his health policy only if he was legally adopted by your husband. Guardian doesnt do it. Besides, health insurance companies have date base of information and eventually they will know your child is insured already, and may decline coverage.

Answer 4

Well, if there's no qualifying event, he'd have to wait until open enrollment.  He'd have to add him within 30 days of the marriage.  Also, it's not uncommon, that he'd have to be claiming him as a dependent on his taxes - if he's someone else's dependent - like his father's, it could also disqualify him.

Having two insurances is likely not going to do what you want it to - most likely, you'll have two insurance companies denying claims and pointing at the other guy saying, it's THEIR responsbility to pay, not ours.   If they DO pay, they'd SHARE the payout proportionately.  

So it's really not in your best interest to have this kid double insured.  Just like, it's probably costing you to be added to your husband's plan, but YOUR plan is primary, and his plan won't pick up deductibles and copays, most likely.

Answer 5

Oh, don't double cover him, really it's not worth the price. Sit down and figure which plan he would have better coverage with and IF you are within your time frame to add him, then do so, if not, then wait until open enrollment comes up, you can legally do this, but only cover him with one plan.

Answer 6

My advice is to check directly with the carrier to see what the requirements are for adding stepchildren.

It's possible that they require him to be adopted by your husband.

The other issue you may want to think about is if it will actually give your son more coverage. Many times, the premiums out-weigh the actual benefits paid in such cases. Unless your husband's insurance offers something that your son needs that your insurance does not, it simply doesn't pay to have 2 coverages. They do not automatically pick up the balance after the primary has paid. Most often, the secondary will only pay UP TO what they would have paid if they were primary.

Answer 7

He had 30 days from the time you were married to add any new dependents to his policy.  If it has been past the 30 day period, he will have to wait until open enrollment time at renewal of the health plan to add any dependents (unless he loses his current coverage).

Answer 8

You do not need to adopt to obtain coverage, legal guardianship is all that is needed.

You should call the insurance carrier directly and explain to them what his employer said. If you tell the insurance company that other coverage will not be dropped they might not issue new coverage.

Having double coverage is usually not worth the price you pay.