Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026

The Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026 aims to close a gap in how health insurance companies handle medical reimbursements for children of divorced or separated parents. Currently, federal law requires group health plans to reimburse the parent who actually paid for a child's medical care, even if the other parent is the one who holds the insurance policy. However, this requirement does not apply to all types of health insurance, which can lead to administrative hurdles and financial strain if a custodial parent pays out-of-pocket but the insurance company sends the reimbursement check to the non-custodial parent.

This legislation would expand direct reimbursement requirements to all health insurance issuers, including individual plans and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. If enacted, it would allow a parent who pays for a child's covered medical services to submit claims and receive payments directly from the insurer without needing approval or mediation from the parent who provides the insurance coverage. The bill also proposes that insurers must provide necessary coverage information to the custodial parent to ensure the child can access benefits regardless of which parent holds the policy.