Qualified Medical Child Support Orders (QMCSOs) and National Medical Support Notices (NMSNs) are ERISA-governed court orders that require a company to enroll an employee's eligible child(ren) in group health coverage.

The QMCSO and NMSN process includes:

• Determining whether the order fully complies with federal rules and the terms of the employer's individual plan(s)
• Identifying the type of coverage in which to enroll the child(ren)
• Determining the maximum amount of deductions that can be taken from the employee's paycheck under state law
• Enrolling the child(ren) with an approved QMCSO or NMSN with coverage
• Communicating to the various parties (employee, custodial parent, attorneys, state agencies) regarding whether an order is approved or denied and keeping them clearly informed of next steps

Child support issues create emotional and financial distractions for employees. For HR, the process of reviewing QMCSOs and NMSNs is time-consuming and complicated. If a determination is flawed or untimely, it may result in a child being improperly denied court-ordered coverage. This in turn can result in financial exposure or legal problems for the employer.

Hewitt's QMCSO Administration service offers a standardized, streamlined process that helps ensure accurate and timely QMCSO administration. Our experienced team of professionals reviews the order and approves or denies it within 15 business days. When an order is approved, the team coordinates the process of adding the child(ren) to the appropriate coverage with the client's benefits administration team. The service also includes the cutting-edge QOCenter.com, a user-friendly tool that allows parties to manage orders online. QOCenter.com provides informational resources and, in addition, functionality that lets parties draft orders online, reducing their attorney fees. QOCenter.com also enables parties to track the status of any order currently under review.

Hewitt's QMCSO team serves a wide variety of companies of all sizes in all industries and reviews more than 30,000 QMCSOs and NMSNs each year. The team is made up of dedicated, caring experts with deep knowledge of the rule-bound QMCSO and NMSN processes. The team delivers friendly, professional, and consistent administration that minimizes HR involvement in employees' divorce and related personal issues, freeing up time to focus on strategic activity.

To learn more about Hewitt's Qualified Medical Child Support Order Administration service and how it can benefit your company, please contact your local Hewitt consultant or e-mail peoplesolutions@hewitt.com.

Case Study
Packaging Corporation of America Gains Operational Excellence for Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
By outsourcing administration of QDROs to Hewitt, PCA gives employees efficient, one-stop shopping, while freeing up HR for strategic initiatives.
view the case study