Tips for Handling Your Child's Medical Care After Divorce
Your child's medical care can set you in opposition against the other parent after your divorce. Such disagreements can harm the child, however, by delaying medical care. Use the following tips to care for your child's health after divorce.
Preempt the Challenges During Divorce
Start preparing for your child's post-divorce health during your divorce. Below are two ways to do this.
Include Medical Issues in the Custody Agreement
Discuss and agree on how to handle medical issues after the divorce. Discuss every possible scenario you can think of. For example, you should discuss vaccinations, alternative treatment methods, and elective surgeries. The court will not have a problem with your agreements as long as they are legal and are in the child's best interests.
Have Appropriate Medical Insurance in Place
Disagreements might arise if your child needs medical care and you do not have the resources to pay for it. Put in place appropriate medical care to forestall such problems. If both parents have medical insurance, they should include all the minor children in both plans. Your child support agreement should provide for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Discuss the Issue With the Other Parent
Your divorce, custody, or support document cannot include every imaginable medical issue in the world. Your child might experience problems you never envisioned during the divorce. Discuss such issues with the other parent and reach an agreement unless you have sole legal custody of the child.
Say a new vaccine for a newly discovered disease becomes available. Discuss the issue with the other parent before vaccinating the child.
Act in Case of an Emergency
You might not always have the time to discuss medical problems with the other child. Many medical emergencies require prompt action to save lives or prevent medical complications. For example, you should not leave a child in pain to discuss their accident with the other parent.
In such a case, act first and get the child emergency medical care and then inform the other parent. You can discuss the rest of the treatment after that. In case the other parent raises the issue with the court, the court will evaluate whether your actions were in the child's best interest.
Keep the Other Parent in the Loop
Both of you should keep the other in the loop about the child's medical issues. For example, you should both:
- Know the child's doctors and dentists
- Have the child's drug prescriptions
- Receive communication from the child's medical providers
- Keep abreast of the child's recovery after an illness or injury
For one, the knowledge will help whoever has physical custody of the child at any time to take care of them. Secondly, you can prevent many disagreements with the other parent just by keeping them in the loop.
Keep the Child's Interests Foremost
Whatever you do, remember that the child's best interests outweigh all other issues. For example, do not take controversial stands just to spite the other parent. Keep your child's welfare in mind to help the child and avoid complications with the other parent.
Petition the Court for Help
Lastly, you have the right to petition for the court's help if you cannot agree with the other parent. If you have a co-parent you can’t make a decision with, reach out to the court for help, and it will use the best available information to help your child.
Contact Kalasnik Law Office LLC for help with all your divorce or family law issues. We have decades of legal experience and promise to put your best interests first. We look forward to being there for you and your child in your time of need.