CSA and Medical Insurance

[boobah1970]

After 3 years of duly making all my CM payments on time and increasing inline with my pay ( plus lots of additional payments for school uniforms, trips etc... ) and being a very active father my ex wife decided that she would go to the CMS to get more money. My employer adds all my benefits on to my salary as it makes your overall package look better, the downside is your pay looks higher even though you dont actually see any of this extra money. My benefits are Medical and Dental insurance for myself and my two children ( ex's employer does not offer these ). I am now going to be paying my ex Child Maintenance based on her own childrens medical insurance,

While I have no issues paying whats due on money I have earned I think is morally / ethically wrong that I then pay CM on my children's health insurance, essentially i am being penalized for for ensuring the best possible care in the god forbid event they need specialist care.

Any thoughts..

[Fourormore]

How you choose to spend your taxable salery is your choice.

I think the OP's point is that it isn't really a choice like that. It's not like they're saying "You can have £5000 extra salary, a nice car or a fancy health care package." He either takes the health care, which benefits his DC, or he gets no other equivalent.

[ivykaty44]

You are missing the point. Your employer is not paying for the private health care, it is part of your salary package. If you left the company they wouldn't still pay for you to have private medical insurance therefore you work for it.

How you choose to spend your taxable salery is your choice.

You are not able to say well if my children fall ill then they will get private medical care therefore I shouldn't have to pay as much maintenance, and rightly so.

[LadyRoseMacClare]

Fourormore I do understand that, the rules are the rules and so it must be paid. OP asked for peoples' thoughts so I gave mine.

[boobah1970]

Ivykaty - you are missing the point, I am not paying for the health care, my employer is, I choose to have it for the benefit of my children. my employer has to declare it to the HRMC and thus is picked up by the CMS, if I chose not to have it I would not have the equivalent amount in my pocket. - Scenario for you - your ex is able to provide health insurance for your children, one of your children falls ill and needs specialist treatment, you are now able to see a consultant and start treatment in a week instead of waiting 4-6 weeks on the NHS, would you still want to penalize him for providing the best care for your children?

Fourormore - The health insurance policy is very comprehensive with no exclusions or excesses so it would be foolish not to take advantage of it. The CMS representative said it is a flaw in the system that healthcare is factored in but that's how it works.

I just think its wrong that i am penalized for a benefit that is primarily there for children and that my ex would have no quarms in calling apon if needed.

[Fourormore]

You can agree or disagree, LadyRoseMacClare but the CMS rules are as they are.

[LadyRoseMacClare]

No sorry, I don't agree it should be taken into account. If op doesnt receive the additional benefits, I'd assume there's no cash alternative? There's no monetary value.

[Toffeelatteplease]

It is part of your renumeration package. It is right that it is included

[Fourormore]

Have a good read through of the health insurance, see whether it's actually worth it. Some of them really aren't.
There's no get around though - you pay CMS on all taxable income including benefits like company car and health insurance.

[ivykaty44]

How you spend your money is up to you, whether that be on the best health food going or medical insurance or a round the world trip to enhance their lives. But you can't the expect to not have to pay the full % through CMS because you choose to spend your money on something you see as worthwhile.

If you can afford medical insurance then go for it but don't expect your ex to pick up the bill for your choices

[boobah1970]

IvyKaty - I'm aware the NHS is there, the NHS is also chronically overworked and if the opportunity exists to allow your children to have private treatment and thus take that load away from the NHS surely that is better for both the NHS and most importantly your children? The provider of that benefit shouldn't then be penalized for trying to ensure the best their children.

[BloodyPlantagenets]

They're included in your salary as they are part of your package. There's probably a way you can do a salary sacrifice to lower it but I think that's morally quite sketchy. And the CMS payments are the baseline of what you should be paying, they're a pittance imo.

[ivykaty44]

Ask your employer to stop giving you these benefits. It is free for dental care for under 16 year olds and NHS is available for medical care.