Updated National Medical Support Notice and Instructions Released

A National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) is a standardized medical child support order that is used by state child support enforcement agencies to obtain group health coverage for children. NMSNs consist of two parts.

Part A (Notice to Withhold for Health Care Coverage) is sent to the employer stating that its employee is legally bound to provide coverage to the children listed and contribute according to the plan documents.

Part B (Medical Support Notice to Plan Administrator) is sent by the employer to its plan administrator/carrier if the child is eligible for enrollment in a group health plan. A properly completed NMSN is considered a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) for ERISA purposes.

The updates include a sample Part A, standalone instructions, and a new addendum to Part B to be completed by the plan administrator. The addendum is used to provide information about the medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, mental health, or other coverage in which a child is enrolled, and to list any children who are at or above the age at which dependents are no longer eligible for coverage under the plan. States have until November 1, 2023, to implement the revised NMSNs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided Medical Support FAQs with answers to employers’ common questions and a Medical Support Matrix that provides state-by-state information about medical support requirements.

SOURCE: United Benefit Advisors (UBA)