How to Collect or Contest Unpaid Medical and Dental Expenses

If your child support order says that each parent must pay a share of unreimbursed/uninsured medical or dental expenses for the child(ren) and one of the parents is not cooperating with payments, there are steps you can take collect or contest the payments. NOTE: Requests for payment generally must be made within 2 years of the date of the unreimbursed or uninsured medical/dental expenses. You can read the law online at MN Stat. §§ 518A.41 and 518A.69.

Steps to Collect Payment:

Make a Request for Payment:
If the other parent fails to pay his or her share of a child's health care expenses, the first step is to make a proper request for payment to the other parent. The MN Dept. of Human Services publishes a Forms Packet: Request for Unreimbursed Medical Expenses (ex pro) (MN Dept. Human Svc.) to use in "ex pro" cases that involve the County Support Office. If the other parent still does not pay after you send the request and the county support office is involved in your case, you could contact your child support caseworker to discuss your options. If the county child support office is not involved, you could sign up for County Support Collection Services or get advice from a lawyer.
File a Motion to Collect Payment:
If the other parent still fails to pay after you make the request for payment, one option could be to file a Motion to Collect Unreimbursed/Uninsure Health Care Expenses.
You might also be able to get the unpaid medical expenses "docketed" as a money judgment.

Steps to Contest Payment:

Reach an Agreement for Payment:
One option may be to reach an agreement with the other parent on the payment of unreimbursed/uninsured health care expenses.
File a Motion to Contest Payment:
Another option may be to file a Motion to Contest Unreimbursed/Uninsure Health Care Expenses if you have received a "Request for Payment and Notice of Intent to Collect Unreimbursed Health Care Expenses" or a "Notice of Motion and Affidavit to Collect Unreimbursed Health Care Expenses" from the other parent; OR you received a notice from the County Child Support Agency regarding collection of unreimbursed or uninsured health care expenses AND you believe that the amount is incorrect or you want a monthly payment schedule, and you have not been able to reach an agreement with the other party or the county. Talk with a lawyer if you want advice on the options in your case.

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