Can a Hospital Bill You for Medical Care Obtained for Your Child by Your Ex-Spouse
My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Colorado. My husband and I are being sued for a medical bill that was accrued by his exwife for their son. She took him in and was treated for constipation. Something we would not take him to the hospital for but nonetheless, I was baffled as to how we were being contacted. She has not once been contacted. She provides the health insurance and took him in. I believe she will step up and do the right thing here and pay it, but in the case that she does not (since she hasn't up until this point) what if any are our rights here?
Re: Can a Hospital Bill You for Medical Care Obtained for Your Child by Your Ex-Spous
Colorado recognizes the duty of parents to support their children, and that duty normally extends to necessary medical care. If the hospital ends up suing for the unpaid bill, it is possible to try to convince the court that the care was not reasonably necessary, but I doubt that the bill is so large that it would be worth that effort.
Usually a child support order will describe how the uninsured portion of medical bills are to be paid by the parents. If that is the case, the order should be followed, and either parent may seek relief through the custody court.