Maine Revised Statutes Title 19-A. Domestic Relations § 2305. Effect and implementation of health insurance obligations; failure of responsible parent to comply

1. Responsible parent's failure to comply. If a responsible parent fails to obtain health insurance coverage as required by an administrative decision, that parent is liable for any expenses incurred, for each dependent child, that would have been paid by the insurance coverage, regardless of incurred expenses. Incurred liability may be enforced as a child support debt under this article or by judicial action.

2. Insurer's obligation under authorization. Upon receipt of a written authorization by a responsible parent to make health insurance payments to the department for each dependent child of that parent, whether or not public assistance is being expended for the benefit of each child, an insurer shall make all payments directly to the department until the authorization is withdrawn. Upon receipt of authorization from the responsible parent, the department is subrogated to the rights of the responsible parent under the insurance policy for each child.

3. Insurer's obligation under order or decision and notice. Upon receipt of a copy of a court order or administrative decision establishing the obligation of a responsible parent to provide health insurance coverage for each dependent child of that parent, and receipt of a copy of a notice from the department that public assistance is being expended for the benefit of each dependent child of the responsible parent or that the department is furnishing support enforcement services to a person with whom each child resides other than the responsible parent, an insurer shall make all health insurance payments for each child directly to the department until otherwise notified by the department. In all such cases, the responsibility of the department is subrogated to the rights of the responsible parent under the insurance policy for each child.

4. Insurers to provide information. Upon request by the department, a nonprofit hospital or medical service organization authorized under Title 24  1 or an insurer authorized under Title 24-A  2 shall provide to the department a list of persons who have health insurance coverage with that organization or insurer. The information must be transmitted in a manner prescribed by the department to allow electronic identification of responsible parents who have health insurance coverage.