Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8164
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-30: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-14T13:55:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026" (H.R. 8164) aims to make it easier for custodial parents to access health benefits for their children covered under a noncustodial parent's (or stepparent's) health plan or insurance, as required by a medical child support order (a court order mandating health coverage for a child as part of child support).
Key Provisions
- Public Health Service Act (group and individual health plans/insurers): Plans must:
- Share necessary information with the custodial parent to help the child get benefits.
- Allow the custodial parent (or a healthcare provider with their approval) to file claims without the noncustodial parent's permission.
- Pay claims directly to the custodial parent or provider.
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Carriers providing coverage to federal employees must follow the same rules.
- Federal Health Care Programs (e.g., those under the Social Security Act): Programs must apply the same requirements, with payments going directly to the custodial parent, provider, or relevant state agency if applicable.
- Effective Date: Applies to plan years starting on or after January 1, 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on prior laws requiring health coverage under medical child support orders by adding specific procedural mandates.
- Eliminates the need for noncustodial parent approval for claims submission and directs payments away from them.
- Extends these rules to federal health care programs for the first time in this detailed manner.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Simplifies healthcare access for children in divorced or separated families, reducing delays or denials due to noncustodial parent involvement.
- On government agencies: FEHB carriers and federal programs (e.g., those administered by HHS or CMS) must update processes, potentially increasing administrative costs initially but improving efficiency long-term.
- On health plans/insurers: Requires system changes for information sharing, claims processing, and direct payments, with possible minor cost shifts.
- No direct impact on international relations.
Main Stakeholders
- Custodial parents: Gain direct control over claims and payments.
- Children: Benefit from faster, more reliable health coverage.
- Noncustodial parents/stepparents: Lose gatekeeping role in claims but retain coverage obligation.
- Health insurers and group plans: Must comply with new operational rules.
- Federal employees: FEHB plans affected indirectly.
- Government agencies: HHS, OPM (for FEHB), and CMS (for federal programs) responsible for enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of child support laws (e.g., under ERISA and family court orders) by standardizing processes across private, federal employee, and federal programs; no preemption of state laws apparent.
- Constitutional: Aligns with due process and equal protection by facilitating child welfare without infringing on parental rights disproportionately.
- Political: Supports child welfare and family stability priorities; referred to multiple committees (Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Oversight) indicating bipartisan interest in health and family policy intersections.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-30: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-30: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-30: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-30: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E290)
- 2026-03-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Ensuring Child Health Coverage Compensation in Divorce Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-30 — PDF (4 pages)