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Name: freedom9 New Member   Title: Health Insurance

My exspouse and I were divorced on September 11, 2008 our last court appearance was June 11, 2008 Worcester Family Court. My ex spouse Jamyel Collins, SR. is to pay child support which he does, to have scheduled visitation which are suppose to be biweekly but not something he does he has only seen our children three times since January and finally he is suppose to provide us with Health Insurance which he decided to cancel. I have asked him to put us back on his health insurance but he flat out refuses saying he gives us enough with his Child support payments which is only 800$ a month for three children. I unfortunately did not have the money nor do I now to hire an attorney for our divorce so I get little child support and have no claim to his 401k/pension. I have recently applied for MassHealth they have given my children 60days coverage until I can provide them with a letter from my ex spouse stating he pays 800$ a month in child support to me, now I am waiting for him to get me that letter to me. I feel so helpless. My ex husband and I were married for 10 years I stayed at home raising our children; when I did work it was part time and when it was full time it never lasted long because his job was our first priority and it relocated us throughout the country several times. What can I do? My children and I need Health Insurance and I can not afford to pay for it through my job. Can I have his visitation schedule enforced so that I have the option of picking up a part time job that does not interfere with my current full time employment? My three children live with me full time I have to leave my job for sick days etc I am always a mother first but part of that is keeping myself employed so that I can provide for my children. Please help.
- Freedom Cruz-Collins
FreedomCruzcollins@yahoo.com

Name: irenek New Member

I know in SC, visitation and child support are completely different issues. That CS is paid regardless if the non-custodial parents excercises their right to have visitation. If the issue of health insurance was not something addressed in the custody case, and it is not stated in your paperwork, he is not obligated to provide it. You might be able to contact your local child support enforcement office and ask them what you can do. My husband has custody of his 2 children and he gets less than $400 a month in CS. However his ex carries the kids on her insurance as well as him carrying them on his, she does it to try to bring down what she pays in CS - she was not ordered to carry coverage and she elected to do so without discussing it first. You might want to check into a legal aid office to see if they can help you determine what can be done about the visitation. I would think you will have to petition the court to have your ex share the custody and visitation, to allow you time to work, or help pay for adequate day care.