Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 9/1/2009

Question
Hi.I am the biological father of my child who was born out of wedlock.My ex has now married a navy man.My ex has told me that my child will be covered fully with her husbands naval medical insurance.i would like to know if that is true without him adopting my daughter.They live on the Norfolk Naval Base.My ex is also telling me that she does not recieve any housing assistance,foodstamps,daycare benefits or anything for my daughter.I don't understand how she can recieve full medical benefits for my daughter but no other assistance to help support my daughters needs especially with them living on the base.Can you please help me answer these questions because no one else seems to want to without me agreeing to sign up for the navy first.please understand that my daughter is 7 and i have never missed a child support payment or a visitation and i pay for everything my ex says my daughter needs.i am not one of these deadbeat dads looking for answers so i don't have to pay for anything,i am just trying to understand the navy and if it taking care of my daughter like she deserves to be taken care of or if i am having the wool pulled over my eyes,thank you for your time and hopefully for some answers,

Answer
Your ex can because she qualifies for TriCare (the military healthcare plan) by virtue of being married to someone in the military. Her dependent children can also qualify for some benefits, particularly if she has sole custody and lives on base. She may not qualify for other means of assistance (foodstamps or the like) based on her husband and her combined incomes or other reasons. The short answer is, yes, it is probably true.