Within 20 business days of the date of the NMSN.
The employer must complete Part A of the form
and either forward Part B to the Health Plan Administrator or return Part A to
the child support agency.
Within 40
business days of the date of the NMSN
1) the HPA must complete and
return Part B to the employer and to the child support agency; and
2) the employer must complete the
worksheet and either begin withholding or, if the amount exceeds the
limits, return Part A and the worksheet to the child support agency.
11. I have a withholding order and there is a box saying “if
checked medical withholding is necessary”. The box isn’t checked but I received
a separate medical withholding notice. Which do I comply with?
The employer should respond to all National Medical Support Notices received.
12. What if the employee doesn’t want to enroll the child for
medical coverage?
The employee does not have a choice. The National
Medical Support Notice is a qualified medical support order. If health
insurance is available, the employer is required to enroll the child or
children as instructed by the notice. However, the employer must adhere to
limitations imposed on withholding as mandated by Alaska law and the CCPA. If
the employee objects, they must contact CSSD or complete the bottom portion of
the, “Notice of Enforcement of Health Care Withholding” which was sent directly
to the employee. This will allow the employee an opportunity to object to
withholding. However, the employer must still comply with the NMSN regardless
of whether an Administrative Review has been requested.
13. When must health care coverage withholding start?
The Notice for Health Care
Coverage requires withholding for the cost of health care as soon as certain
determinations about eligibility are made.
14. What if the children are already covered under another
outside plan, a current spouse, or have benefits through Indian Health Services?
The employer has an obligation to comply with the National
Medical Support Notice until a notice terminating the medical withholding is
received. However, we want to avoid having an employee charged for insurance
if alternate coverage is being provided. Before we can issue a termination to
our NMSN the employee must provide CSSD with the following documentation:
-
Confirmation the children are covered and the effective date of
coverage
-
Insurance provider’s name, address and phone number
- Policy number and any required identification numbers
-
Names of all persons covered
-
Confirmation from the employer or insurer of the total cost of
coverage for policy holder, spouse, children and other dependents to include
the employee only rates, as well as the cost to add additional family members
to the policy
15. What if the child is covered under Denali Kid Care?
Denali Kid Care, or any Medicaid related program, is
not considered a substitute for medical insurance. The employer must still
comply with the medical withholding order.
16. The employee doesn’t make enough to cover the regular
child support amount and medical coverage premiums. What do we do?
The employer should check box 4 of the
Employer Response (Part A), complete the calculation sheet, and return both to
CSSD. We will then determine the next action for medical enforcement.
17. The employee and dependents are eligible for coverage.
However, our coverage is limited to within the state and the child lives
out-of-state. What do we need to do?
Notify CSSD in writing, indicating coverage is
available but only within a limited area.
18. When will health care coverage withholding stop?
The withholding order for Health
Care Coverage remains in effect until you are notified by the child support
agency of any changes. However, if we terminate the withholding order for
Health Care Coverage, the non-custodial parent may still elect to continue
health care coverage.
19. What if the
employee terminates?
You must notify the child support agency promptly when the employee leaves and
give the employee’s last known home address and - if you know it – the new
employer’s name and address.
Alaska law requires you to keep record of the Notice of WAGE Withholding for
three years and to enforce the Notice if the employee returns to the job within
that period of time. It is advisable to keep the NMSN in conjunction with the
wage withholding order.
20. When are payments for health care coverage due?
The Health Care Notice requires you apply withheld wages to the cost of health
care coverage according to your company’s usual policy.
21. What if I get more than one Health Care Notice for the same employee?
Determining the best way to handle multiple orders can be pretty complicated.
If you have specific questions in regards to the NMSN, you may contact our
Medical Enforcement section directly at (907) 269-6858. If you have questions
regarding regular wage withholding, you can contact us at our Employer Hotline
number – (907) 269-6089 or toll-free in Alaska (877) 269-6685, or you can fax
questions to (907) 787-3197. You can also refer to our website at
http://www.childsupport.alaska.gov/Employers/Employer_Information.asp
22. Can I fire the employee so I don’t have to bother with offering health care
coverage?
No. You could be fined up to $1000.00 if you refuse
to hire an applicant or if you discipline or fire an employee because of a
Heath Care Notice. You could also be ordered to pay court costs.
23. Is the employee entitled to a
credit against their child support obligation for providing Health Insurance to
the child/ren?
If the employee is providing
health care coverage for the child/ren through the employer, spouse’s employer
or private insurance we may be able to credit up to 50% of that cost to the
monthly child support. If the support order allows for credit. If the support
order authorizes a different percentage or credit amount, we will use that
amount. Before CSSD can determine the credit, CSSD must verify that coverage is
in place and the cost is for the children’s coverage. . If the employee is
requesting credit, they must send CSSD a confirmation notice (or letter) from
the insurance provider or employer.
The notice must
include:
- Confirmation the children are covered and the effective date of
coverage
- Insurance provider’s name, address and phone number
- Policy number and any required identification numbers
- Names of all persons covered
- Confirmation from the employer or insurer of the total cost of
coverage for policy holder, spouse, children and other dependents to include
the employee only rates, as well as the cost to add additional family members
to the policy
24. Who can I call?
Call CSSD’s Employer Hotline at 269-6089