health health-insurance children
Is it illegal for a parent to refuse to pay medical expenses with child support in the USA?
<p>I am asking one a friend's behalf.</p>

<p>My friend's parents are divorced, my friend (18, F) is living with her mother and her mother's boyfriend (not married to each other). The mother receives child support however refuses to pay for health insurance. My friend is left without medical coverage, has not been to a doctor for a routine checkup in two years and has not been to a dentist for six years. She is worried about the state of her teeth, but as mentioned she does not have the finances to visit a dentist.</p>

<p>Is it illegal for the mother to refuse to cover the child's health needs?</p>

<p>No. The mother is not obligated because the child is 18. And has, therefore, reached the <strong><em>age of majority</em></strong> in New Hampshire. (See below chart.)</p>

<p><strong>Before</strong> age of majority:</p>

<ul>
<li>Parents are legally obligated to provide for the basic wellbeing of the child including but not limited to proper medical care.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>After</strong> age of majority:</p>

<ul>
<li>Parents do not have any legal or financial obligation for the care and maintenance of children.</li>
<li>Parents should not be paying or receiving child support payments.</li>
</ul>

<h3>Exception to Statutory Obligations</h3>

<p>It is possible, however, that the parenting plan or custody agreement places extra-statutory obligations on one or both parents while child support is being paid. It would be important to read the parenting plan or custody agreement to see if that sets forth obligations for the mother not covered by statute. In which case the child could sue the mom for contempt of court or violation of the custody agreement (or whatever it might be called in New Hampshire) in order to enforce it.</p>

<h3>Age of Majority by U.S. State</h3>

<p><a href="http://contests.about.com/od/3/g/ageofmajority.htm" rel="nofollow">Source</a>: <a href="http://contests.about.com/od/3/g/ageofmajority.htm" rel="nofollow">http://contests.about.com/od/3/g/ageofmajority.htm</a></p>

<p>State   Age of Majority</p>

<p>Alabama 19</p>

<p>Alaska  18</p>

<p>Arizona 18</p>

<p>Arkansas    18 or graduation from high school, whichever is later</p>

<p>California  18</p>

<p>Colorado    18</p>

<p>Connecticut 18</p>

<p>Delaware    19</p>

<p>District of Columbia    18</p>

<p>Florida 18</p>

<p>Georgia 18</p>

<p>Hawaii  18</p>

<p>Idaho   18</p>

<p>Illinois    18</p>

<p>Indiana 18</p>

<p>Iowa    18</p>

<p>Kansas  18</p>

<p>Kentucky    18</p>

<p>Louisiana   18</p>

<p>Maine   18</p>

<p>Maryland    18</p>

<p>Massachusetts   18</p>

<p>Michigan    18</p>

<p>Minnesota   18</p>

<p>Missouri    18</p>

<p>Mississippi 21</p>

<p>Montana 18</p>

<p>Nebraska    19</p>

<p>New Hampshire   18</p>

<p>New Mexico  18</p>

<p>Nevada  18, or if still in high school at 18, 19 or graduation, whichever comes sooner</p>

<p>New Jersy   18</p>

<p>New York    18</p>

<p>North Carolina  18</p>

<p>North Dakota    18</p>

<p>Ohio    18 or graduation from high school, whichever comes first</p>

<p>Oklahoma    18</p>

<p>Oregon  18</p>

<p>Pennsylvania    18</p>

<p>Rhode Island    18</p>

<p>South Carolina  18</p>

<p>South Dakota    18</p>

<p>Tennessee   18 or graduation from high school, whichever is later</p>

<p>Texas   18</p>

<p>Utah    18 or graduation from high school, whichever is earlier</p>

<p>Vermont 18</p>

<p>Virginia    18</p>

<p>Washington  18</p>

<p>West Virginia   18</p>

<p>Wisconsin   18, or if still in high school at 18, 19 or graduation, whichever comes sooner</p>

<p>Wyoming 18</p>
