Just wondering people's opinions. Our family has private health insurance, we are an average working family that struggles at time but for health reasons need health insurance. My stepdaughter mother is well off, money isn't an issue, but don't have insurance. Now I have no problem having her on ours, but have been thinking. We have been paying half of out of pocket expenses (like glasses, operation, dental etc) and her mother the other half. But after thinking about it I feel she should be paying more then half as she's benefiting from us having the insurance. What's fair?
5 Replies
Hmmm... It's a tough one. It does seem like you are paying more than your half share, however, I'm assuming you are paying the private health insurance "family" rate and I could be wrong but that rate includes your children (step and biological) so technically you aren't paying extra for your step child to be a part of it. If you could get a tangible figure, perhaps quoted by the insurance company, of the cost of the portion of your step child's insurance premiums and then go halves in that with her mother? Or take her off your insurance and just split her health care costs whatever they may be? Or just try and come to terms with it not being fair but it's maybe still your best option??
The problem is the mother could just say she wants everything done through the public system, meaning your step daughter may have to wait for services/ operations etc. does the rate go up because of the number of children or is it a flat family rate? If it's a flat family rate I wouldn't rock the boat because it's just getting petty (IMO). If not having her on your insurance would decrease what you'd pay then I think it maybe worth having a discussion.
I'm not asking her to pay part of the health insurance. I think because she's covered with us I feel her mother should pay more then the half of out of pocket expenses. For example she needed glass, they would of been $200 ($100 each family) but because of our health insurance it was only $45 out of pocket but we each paid half of that. To me she would of paid $100 so our expense saved her nearly $80....
She's not the type to go through public. Money isn't an issue so if it came down to it she would pay the extra to go private. I don't think she would have a problem if we came up with a fair amount (not to cover our insurance) but for anything out of pocket. Just not sure what is fair.
What does your partner think?
Id think splitting th OOP expense, as you currently do, is fair. The kid gets the cover because her dad has insurance. Its a perk, it doesnt cost anything extra. Any extra cost incurred is split. fair. As long as she is entitled to it why not let her use it. Its not the mothers business at all and she should not pay towards your policy because his daughter gets a benefit. Its just life, dont begrudge the child.