Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

if my ex-husband has medical bills in his name but the insurance cuts me a check because the insurance had been under my name, who is responsible for paying the bill?


Asked on 9/19/09, 7:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Gregory Lee Gregory P. Lee, Attorney at Law

You are obligated to either get the funds to your ex, or to pay the bill yourself up to the amount of the funds you receive.

If your ex is demanding that you send the funds to him, do so. Endorse the check "Pay to the order of (ex husband), photocopy both sides, and send it to him. Let him misuse the funds, or properly use them, as the case may be. This is likely the better way to do it, as you are no longer liable for his medical costs above the uninsured amount, and he is supposed to be an adult about applying the funds.

If he wants you to pay it to the medical providers, endorse the check on the back, "Pay to the order of (Medical Provider), and send it off with a copy of the Explanation of Benefits so that there is no doubt when received by the billing department. If the providers object to this, shrug and tell them it's done.

Either way, you keep a copy of the check. That way, if the provider seeks to sue you, they will be embarrassed in court.

Most dilemmas such as this have practical solutions when we get beyond the emotion aand frustration.

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Answered on 9/25/09, 6:54 am


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