Medical and Dental Support in Texas
Basic child support is not the whole picture. Every Texas child support order must also address medical support and dental support for the child (Family Code Chapter 154, Subchapter D).
What medical and dental support covers
The order requires that the child have health insurance and dental insurance, and it allocates who pays for it. Typically:
- One parent is ordered to provide coverage (often through an employer plan); and
- The other parent reimburses part or all of the premium — this is the "cash medical support" or "cash dental support" component.
The cost of the child's coverage is one of the deductions used to figure net resources, so it ties directly into the main support calculation.
Uninsured / out-of-pocket expenses
Health and dental insurance rarely cover everything. Texas orders usually split uninsured medical and dental expenses — copays, deductibles, orthodontics, prescriptions — between the parents, commonly 50/50, though the split can vary.
If a parent has no access to affordable coverage
If neither parent has access to reasonably priced private insurance, the court can order coverage through a public program and order the obligor to pay cash medical support instead.
Frequently asked questions
Does medical support increase my total child support? It is a separate obligation on top of the base amount. Our calculator estimates the base guideline support; medical and dental support are ordered in addition.
What if my employer's family plan is expensive? The court weighs whether coverage is available at a reasonable cost. Bring documentation of the actual premium for the child's portion.
This is general information, not legal advice. For help with the medical and dental support terms of your order, contact Nemec Law Office, serving Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, and Collin counties.
Related: What counts as net resources · How child support is calculated · Calculator