Health Insurance and Childcare Add-Ons – NC Child Support
Quick answer: How are health insurance and childcare add-ons handled in North Carolina child support? They’re added to the basic support and prorated by the parents’ income shares. Use the child’s portion of insurance (not the whole family premium) and only work-related childcare costs. In split or shared custody, assign each add-on to the correct child/household before you prorate.
Add-ons can swing the final number. We calculate the child’s true insurance cost, verify childcare meets the work-related test, and draft orders agencies can follow without confusion.
Your North Carolina Child Support Lawyer
Krispen Culbertson, North Carolina family lawyer with 20+ years handling child support add-ons—health insurance allocations, work-related childcare, extraordinary expenses, deviations, and agency-ready orders.
Memberships: North Carolina State Bar; local family law sections. Courts: District Court calendars statewide with regular hearings in Guilford County.
Start by situation
Fast answers
Use the child’s share only: For a family plan, use the incremental cost for covering the child (family minus self-only), not the whole premium.
Childcare must be work-related: Care that lets a parent work, seek work, or attend school/training qualifies. Keep invoices and hours.
Prorate by incomes: Add-ons are split by the same income percentages used in the basic obligation.
Documentation wins: Plan documents, employer cost sheets, DCFSA statements, and childcare receipts make the math stick.
Health insurance: finding the child’s portion
Start with the employer’s rate sheet or insurer statement. Use the incremental method—take the difference between self-only and the relevant tier (employee + child(ren) / family). If multiple children are covered, divide fairly or use plan documentation that shows a per-child amount.
Childcare: the work-related test
Qualifying childcare lets a parent work, seek work, or attend school/training. Keep invoices with dates, hours, and child’s name. Note seasonal or variable costs and provide a reasonable monthly average.
Prorating by income shares
After you find the monthly child insurance amount and allowable childcare, add them to the worksheet and prorate by each parent’s income percentage. The add-ons move with the same shares as the basic support.
Assigning add-ons under A / B / C
- Worksheet A (Primary Custody): add-ons apply to the primary household and are prorated by incomes.
- Worksheet B (Shared Custody): ensure the same-child add-on matches the child’s schedule and the parties’ shares.
- Worksheet C (Split Custody): assign each child’s add-ons to that child’s household group before the offset.
Documents you’ll need
- Employer/insurer premium sheet showing self-only vs. family tiers
- Proof of who is covered and effective dates
- Childcare contracts, invoices, and proof of payment
- DCFSA statements (if used) and notes on school-year vs. summer costs
Tax and benefit coordination
If a parent uses a Dependent Care FSA or claims the federal child/dependent care credit, we reflect the net childcare cost and note it in the order so payroll and the parties stay aligned.
When to request a deviation
Courts may deviate if the guideline result is unjust or inappropriate—for example, unusual medical needs or extreme travel expenses. We prepare clean findings and a proposed order with precise language.
Modification triggers
Major premium changes, childcare ending, custody shifts, or a child aging out can justify modification. We file with updated evidence and a fresh worksheet so enforcement stays smooth.
What to bring and your first 72 hours
Checklist
- Rate sheet showing self-only and family premiums
- Who is covered on the plan and when
- Childcare invoices and average monthly cost
- DCFSA/credit documentation (if used)
- Most recent pay stubs and last tax return
Your first 72 hours with our team
1) Intake & audit
Confirm add-on eligibility and which worksheet applies.
2) Evidence packet
Collect plan docs, invoices, and payment proofs.
3) Calculations
Compute child insurance portion and average childcare; prorate by shares.
4) Draft order
Agency-ready language with start dates and enforcement terms.
5) Implementation
Wage withholding or direct pay arranged; update when costs change.
FAQs
Do we use the whole family premium?
What childcare qualifies?
How do add-ons affect the final support amount?
What if our custody schedule changes?
Can the court deviate because of high medical costs?
What helps the judge rule faster?
Why North Carolina families choose Culbertson & Associates
- 20+ years calculating add-ons and drafting enforceable orders
- Accurate child insurance portions and income-share prorations
- DCFSA/credit coordination, deviations, and modifications
- Orders payroll, insurers, and agencies can follow
Client reviews
N. Wallace — “K.E. Culbertson nailed the insurance math. The order is clear and HR processed it without any back-and-forth.”
R. McCoy — “They proved our childcare was work-related and averaged seasonal costs the right way.”
T. Alvarez — “Culbertson and Associates coordinated our DCFSA so the net childcare number was accurate.”
M. Eaton — “When custody shifted, they re-ran the worksheet and filed a clean modification quickly.”
S. Greene — “Mr. Culbertson’s proposed order matched how the payroll system actually works. No confusion, no delay.”
L. Patel — “Straightforward advice and precise filings. The numbers finally make sense.”
Visit Our Greensboro Office
Culbertson & Associates
315 Spring Garden St Ste #300, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 272-4299 • culbertsonatlaw.com
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM • Area served: North Carolina
Related resources: North Carolina Child Support
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