Rhode Island § 15-29-8 - Medical Support

§ 15-29-8. Plan administrator obligations regarding enrollment.

(a)(1) The medical notice shall be forwarded by the employer to the plan administrator. The plan administrator is obligated to provide health care coverage of the child(ren) under the group health plan described in the medical notice within forty (40) business days of the date of the notice, or sooner if reasonable.

(2) The plan administrator must complete the plan administrator response and send it to the issuing agency.

(3) If there is health care coverage available for the child(ren), the plan administrator shall notify the non-custodial parent of the coverage available and the effective date of the coverage and complete any forms documents or information necessary to effectuate and submit claims for the coverage.

(4) If there is more than one option available for health care coverage, the plan administrator must provide a detailed summary plan description that describes all available coverages, including a default option coverage plan. The issuing child support agency must, in conjunction with the custodial parent, select one of the available options within twenty (20) days or the child(ren) will be enrolled in a default plan.

(5) If there has been no response from the issuing agency as to which option is selected, the plan administrator shall enroll the child(ren) in the default option coverage plan.

(b) The plan administrator shall notify the issuing agency if there is a waiting period for the participant. Upon expiration of the required waiting period for enrollment, the plan administrator shall enroll the child(ren) in the health coverage plan.

(c) If the plan administrator determines the medical notice does not constitute a qualified medical child support order, the reasons must be specified in the response.