Does Illinois Child Support Include Health Insurance?

 Posted on April 21, 2026 in Child Support

When parents in Illinois go through a divorce or separation, child support is one of the first things that needs to be worked out. Most people know that child support helps pay for basic living costs like food, clothing, and housing. What surprises many parents is that health insurance is part of it, too. If you are dealing with a child support order in 2026, here is what Illinois law says about medical coverage for your child. A Wheaton, IL child support attorney can help make sure your child is fully protected.

Does Illinois Child Support Have to Include Health Insurance?

Under 750 ILCS 5/505 and 750 ILCS 5/505.2, Illinois courts can require one or both parents to provide health insurance or other medical support for a child as part of a support order. The court can require a parent to add the child to an employer plan, buy a private plan, or pay cash medical support, a set dollar amount paid toward the cost of coverage, if no affordable insurance is available.

This obligation is separate from the basic monthly child support payment. According to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, about 55 to 56 percent of children in the United States had private health insurance from 2019 to 2021, much of it through a parent’s job. Because many children rely on a parent’s plan, Illinois courts often look at whether that kind of coverage is available when deciding how to meet a child’s medical needs during a support case.

How Does an Illinois Court Decide Which Parent Provides Health Insurance?

Illinois courts look at several things when deciding who carries health insurance for a child. The main factors include:

• Whether one parent has access to a group or employer plan at a reasonable cost
• Which parent's plan offers better coverage for the child
• Each parent's income and ability to pay premiums

If one parent can add the child to a work plan for little or no extra money, the court will usually order that parent to do it. If both parents have coverage available, the court may name one plan as primary and the other as secondary. Each parent pays a share of the premium based on their income, so even if one parent carries the policy, the other may still help pay for it through the support order.

What Happens If a Parent Loses Health Insurance Coverage After a Divorce?

Insurance situations can change after a divorce. A parent may switch jobs, get laid off, or lose access to group coverage for other reasons. If a parent lets court-ordered coverage lapse, they can be held responsible for medical costs the insurance would have covered. The other parent can ask the court to change the medical support order if coverage is no longer in place. Keep records of any job or coverage changes as soon as they happen. Delays in notifying the court can cause problems.

If coverage is lost, the other parent can ask the court to update the medical support order. The court will look at available options, cost, and the child’s needs when making a decision.

What If Neither Divorced Parent Can Afford Health Insurance for a Child in Illinois?

When neither parent can get private coverage at a reasonable cost, the court can order cash medical support to help pay for insurance through another source. In some cases, a child may qualify for Illinois public coverage through Medicaid or the state’s All Kids program, depending on the family’s situation.

The goal under Illinois law is simple: every child covered by a support order should have health insurance. Courts have wide discretion to find a plan that works, and they will not leave a child uninsured just because the situation is complicated.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Wheaton, IL Child Support Attorney

Health insurance is one of the most important parts of any child support order, and getting it right takes careful attention to your situation. At Fawell & Fawell, Attorney Alex Fawell brings 10 years of legal experience and a background as a federal judicial clerk to every case he handles. He takes a practical, results-oriented approach to child support matters and will work to make sure your child's medical needs are fully covered in your order. Your family is our priority. Call 630-871-2400 to schedule a free consultation with a DuPage County, IL child support lawyer today.