Health insurance and child care in Alabama child support (2026)

How is health insurance handled in Alabama child support?

Medical support, as health coverage, cash medical support or both, is ordered when coverage is available to either parent at a reasonable cost (Rule 32(B)(7)(a)). The actual cost of covering the children is added to the basic child support obligation and divided between the parents by income share (Rule 32(B)(7)(d)).

Only the children’s part of the premium counts: the total premium paid by, or for, the parent who provides coverage, divided by the number of people covered and multiplied by the number of children in the case (Rule 32(B)(7)(e)).

When is health insurance reasonable in cost?

When the cost to the parent responsible for medical support does not exceed ten percent of that parent’s gross income (Rule 32(B)(7)(c)(3)). Coverage must also be accessible: ordinary medical care within 100 miles of the children’s home (Rule 32(B)(7)(c)(4)).

How is child care handled?

Child care needed because of either parent’s employment or job search is added to the basic obligation. It may not exceed the cost of care from a licensed source on the Alabama Department of Human Resources’ schedule (Rule 32(B)(8)(a)). After the total is split by income, the child care is deducted from the share of the parent who pays it (Rule 32(B)(8)(b)).

How do these costs change the amount?

With incomes of $4,000 and $6,000 and two children:

Child care paid by the parent the children live with, insurance by the other parent

In Alabama: 2 children; the parent the children live with earns $4,000 a month and the other parent $6,000, before tax; 0 days a year with the other parent; child care of $400 a month, paid by the parent the children live with; health insurance for the children of $200 a month, paid by the other parent.

1. Add the two incomesRule 32, Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, as amended effective 1 June 2023 (archived copy of the court's PDF)

   $4,000 + $6,000 = $10,000 a month. The other parent's share is $6,000 ÷ $10,000 = 60%.

   60%

2. Look up the scheduleRule 32(C)(1) and the Appendix, schedule of basic child-support obligations

   The schedule's amount for $10,000 of combined income and 2 children.

   $1,700.00

3. Work out the other parent's shareRule 32(C)(2), (C)(5) and (C)(7); Forms CS-42 and CS-42-S

   ($1,700 + child care $400 + health insurance $200) = $2,300; $2,300 × 60% = $1,380, − $200.00 of child care and health insurance the other parent already pays = $1,180.

   $1,180.00 a month

The other parent owes their share of the whole total, schedule plus child care plus insurance, less the insurance they already pay.

What if child care costs more than the licensed rate?

Only the amount on the licensed-care schedule is added. Actual child care costs above it are among the reasons a court may consider for deviating from the guideline (Rule 32(A)(1)(f)). The calculator adds the amount entered, so it assumes the cost is within the schedule.

What this guide does not cover

Uninsured medical costs and extraordinary medical, dental or educational expenses, which a court can add by agreement or finding; the Department of Human Resources’ licensed-care rates themselves. The engine also leaves out:

• Not modeled: deductions for child support and alimony a parent already pays under another order (Form CS-42, lines 1a and 1b), and the discretionary deduction for other children living with a parent (Rule 32(B)(6)).
• Not modeled: the cap on child care at the Department of Human Resources' licensed-care rates, the 10%-of-income test for health coverage, benefits paid to the children on a parent's record, split custody, extraordinary medical, dental and education costs, and deviations (Rule 32(A)).