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The bill helps custodial parents secure and receive covered benefits and payments quickly for their children—improving access to care and provider payment—while imposing implementation costs and coordination challenges for insurers, federal programs, and state systems.
Custodial parents (and their children) can obtain a child's insurer information and submit claims or have approved providers submit claims without needing the noncustodial parent's involvement, speeding access to covered care and reducing delays.
Health plans, carriers, and federal programs must pay claims directly to custodial parents, providers, or State agencies, improving cash flow for families and providers and reducing barriers to paying for treatment.
The rule applies across group health plans, the FEHB program, and federal health programs beginning in 2026, creating a standardized nationwide protection for covered children and custodial parents.
Insurers and FEHB carriers will face administrative costs to implement new information-sharing, claims, and payment processes, which could be passed on through higher premiums or increased administrative burdens.
Direct payments to custodial parents may complicate coordination with child support, payment-recovery, and State systems, increasing disputes and administrative workload for State agencies, plans, and health providers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires group plans, FEHB, and federal health programs to let custodial parents get benefit info, submit claims without noncustodial approval, and receive direct payments.
Introduced March 30, 2026 by Eleanor Holmes Norton · Last progress March 30, 2026
Requires group health plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, and federal health care programs under the Social Security Act to follow the same medical child support order rules so custodial parents can get benefits for children covered under a noncustodial parent’s plan. Plans and programs must give custodial parents necessary information, allow custodial parents or approved providers to file claims without the noncustodial parent’s approval, and pay those claims directly to the custodial parent or provider (or to a State agency for federal programs where applicable). The changes apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and are intended to make it easier for custodial parents to use health coverage for their children when the child is enrolled through a noncustodial (including stepparent) plan.