Child support: health insurance.

Existing law provides that in a case in which an amount is set for child support, the court is required to order either or both parties to provide health insurance coverage for the supported child, if the cost of the insurance is reasonable. Under existing law, health insurance is rebuttably presumed to be reasonable in cost if it is employment-related or other group health insurance. This bill would instead require that the court determine that the cost of health insurance is reasonable if it does not exceed 5% of the obligor's gross income, as specified, unless the obligor is entitled to a low-income adjustment, as defined, in which case the court would be required to determine that the cost of health insurance is not reasonable, unless the court determines that not requiring medical support would be unjust and inappropriate. Existing law provides that when either parent uses a health care provider other than the preferred provider designated by the health care insurance coverage, the parent obtaining that care is solely responsible for any nonreimbursable health care costs in excess of the costs that would have been incurred under the court-ordered health care insurance coverage had the preferred provider been used. Existing law requires a court, in evaluating a motion based on this provision, to consider the geographic access and reasonable availability of necessary health care for the child which complies with the terms of the health care insurance coverage paid for by either parent pursuant to a court order. This bill would require the court to apply a rebuttable presumption that health care insurance is accessible if medical services to be provided are within 50 miles of the residence of the supported child. The bill would require the court, if it determines that health care insurance is not accessible, to state the reason on the record.